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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

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Film on Lebanese single mother wins Busan award

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www.kuwaittimes.net

THULQADA 28, 1433 AH

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Article 71 only applies to wars, martial law: Khalifa Ex-MPs ‘advice’ Amir against changing electoral law

Max 38º Min 21º High Tide 10:30 & 22:45 Low Tide 04:17 & 16:21

By A Saleh

ACD summit in Kuwait a new start for Asia KUWAIT: Kuwait, one of the smallest countries in Asia, hosts this week the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) summit, which launches a fresh start for the continent. The summit, to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, will be inaugurated by HH the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and groups 32 Asian nations. The two-day event will focus on highlighting Kuwait’s role in enhancing Asian cooperation in all fields and set the stage for transforming the continent into a regional financial and trade center.

The Amir’s initiative to launch this summit was made during the 10th Asian Cooperation Dialogue Forum, which Kuwait hosted in Oct 2011, while the idea for the gathering originated in Thailand in June 2001 as a launch pad to set up a framework for an Asian society that serves the needs of the countries of the continent. Sheikh Sabah’s call to hold this summit has expressed hopes and goals of some Asian countries hit by natural disasters, which hampered their development, in addition to the dangers of wars and terrorism.

Topping these challenges is the economic crisis that hit the continent in recent years forcing Asian countries to join hands in fighting its adverse effects.

Continued on Page 13

KUWAIT: Opposition supporters and former MPs (inset) attend a gathering at the diwaniya of ex-MP Mohammed Al-Khalifa in Jahra yesterday. — Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Egypt standoff between Morsi, prosecutor ends Zawahiri urges holy war over anti-Islam film

CAIRO: Egyptian Prosecutor General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud speaks to hundreds of supporters, judges, lawyers and media in a downtown courthouse yesterday after defying a presidential decision to remove him from his post. — AP CAIRO: Egypt’s top prosecutor reached an agreement with the country’s president to keep his job yesterday despite earlier attempts to remove him, ending a standoff that had prompted accusations of inter ference in judicial affairs.

President Mohamed Morsi had ordered Prosecutor General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud to step down last Thursday in an apparent bid to appease public anger over the acquittals of ex-regime officials

accused of orchestrating violence against protesters last year.

Morsi had broad public support for removing Mahmoud, who was appointed under ousted president Hosni Mubarak.

But the move created a backlash from angry judges, who saw the decision as infringement on the judiciary. Egyptian law protects the prosecutor general from being fired by the president.

Continued on Page 13

CAIRO: Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri said a film made in the United States mocking Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) showed Washington was waging a “crusader Zionist war ” against Muslims and he called for more protests outside American embassies. Like in other messages Ayman al-Zawahiri released by al Qaeda’s Yemeni and North African branches last month, Zawahiri praised last month’s assault on the US consulate in Benghazi that killed four diplomats but stopped short of claiming responsibility.

In the recording, posted on Islamist websites, he called on “free and distinguished zealots for Islam” who attacked the consulate and protested outside other American embassies to “continue their opposition to American crusader Zionist aggression against Islam and Muslims”. The recording appeared on the Mujahedin al-Ansar website which carries statements from Al-Qaeda leaders. Zawahiri said US authorities “permitted the film in the name of personal freedom and freedom of expression” but failed to practise those values in its treatment of Muslims imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan. — Reuters

LOS ANGELES: Spectators take in the view of the shuttle Endeavour as it stops in front of the Forum yesterday. — AFP (See Page 27)

KUWAIT: Amidst a large audience and extensive security presence, former opposition MP Mohammed Al-Khalifa said Article 71 of the constitution only grants HH the Amir the right to issue emergency decrees in the event of war or the declaration of martial law. Addressing a gathering held yesterday at his diwaniya in Jahra, Khalifa stressed that he was in favor of amending the electoral constituencies law, but only through the parliament. “We have previously called for a single constituency,” he reminded, urging the Amir to save Kuwait and Kuwaitis from whom he described as the “jailor and his buddies”.

Khalifa warned that rulers were not sacred, adding Kuwait was currently going through a ‘minefield’ and that the combination of the current situations would eventually lead to an explosion. “So, your highness, this is only a piece of advice and we want history to remember you with good words for your wise decision,” he said.

“We will only follow the Amir in righteous matters,” warned former MP Jamaan Al-Harbash, “but our hand is open to an allegiance of honesty and dignity”. Former MP Mubarak AlWaalan said: “Saddam couldn’t scare the Kuwaiti people, and we warn those who threaten us with the army, special forces and the National Guard to take heed from Egypt - Mubarak is in jail while Morsi is the ruler.” Waalan also said the Amir does not have unlimited authority, but added they were only criticizing the Amir’s actions and not his person.

Other speakers included Nafal Al-Ajmi and former MPs Mohammed Al-Hatlani and Osama Al-Menawer. Former MP Obaid Al-Wasmi was prevented from speaking as his name was not on the list of speakers. Nevertheless, Wasmi insisted on attending as a listener and a fourth constituency candidate.

The Iranian director who makes Westerns BUSAN, South Korea: Negahdar Jamali is an Iranian filmmaker who has for the past 35 years made American-inspired Westerns complete with cowboys and Indians in the deserts surrounding the city of Shiraz. Poor and illiterate, Jamali has nevertheless dedicated his whole life to making more than 50 movies, often in the face of pressure to give up his dream from family and from the society surrounding him. “I had always wished to be an actor,” said Jamali. “However no director would give me a chance. So I decided to become a director to make my own western movies and after a while I fell in love with directing.”

He funds the films through working, either wrecking cars at an auto lot with a sledgehammer or by selling costume

jewellery from a blanket on the ground.

Then he recruits actors from the streets of Shiraz, convincing local market stall holders to donate feathers - sometimes plucked from live chickens - so he can make the Indian costumes that add a degree of authenticity to his decidedly low budget, B-grade productions.

Jamali’s story has been told in the documentary “My Name Is Negahdar Jamali And I Make Westerns”, which this week was given its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival in South Korea. “I wish when audiences see my real life in this documentary, they will see me as a good director who can make powerful westerns,” said Jamali in an email to AFP from Shiraz.

Continued on Page 13

This undated handout photo shows the cast and crew of ‘The Great Revenge’

by Iranian filmmaker Negahdar Jamali. — AFP

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

local

Envoys pin big hopes on ACD summit Kuwait summit to give ACD new vigor

By Sajeev K Peter

I

n a brief interview with the Kuwait Times, Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta takes a look at the evolution and growth of Asian Cooperation Dialogue over the last decade and hopes that the summit currently being hosted by Kuwait will give a new direction and vigor to ACD for the next decade.

ACD forum initiated in 2002, has completed 10 years marked by regular ministerial meetings at the level of Foreign Ministers.

ACD cooperation has t wo dimensions: Dialogue and Projects. The Dialogue process is taking place continuously among member countries. It has identified 20 areas for substantive cooperation with the concept of Prime and Co-Prime Movers.

A number of conferences, seminars, workshops, round table meetings, working group, expert group, training programs have been held. Significant activities have taken place under various sectors such as Agriculture, Poverty Alleviation, Biotechnology, Culture, E-education and Environmental Education.

With the hosting of First ACD Summit by the State of Kuwait, the level of cooperation has been upgraded to the leader ’s level. We believe, the summit will give new direction and vigor to ACD for the next decade.

India’s position Talking about India’s position in ACD, the ambassador said, India is the founding member of ACD. India is the prime mover in the area of Biotechnology, Transport Linkages and CoPrime Mover in the area of culture. India has established Regional Centre for Biotechnology

Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta which is carrying out biotechnology research of highest caliber and developing knowledgerich skilled human resources. India would like to share its expertise in the centre by way of offering fellowships to ACD member countries.

We will be sharing the details soon in this regard.

Efficient transport linkages among ACD countries will lead to reduction in transporta-

tion cost and would give competitive edge to supply chains of ACD countries both individually and as a regional bloc. In coordination with Kazakhstan, India has prepared a Concept Paper on “Transport Linkages among ACD countries” and shared with member countries in 2009. After receipt of comments, India will take further steps.

All of us recognize the importance of mutual understanding between countries as the foundation for all relationships. An important method of promoting such understanding is through cultural cooperation. India hosted 2nd Senior Officials Meeting on cultural cooperation on April 19 and 20, 2012 which has given further impetus to cultural cooperation.

India attaches importance to ACD and would like to contribute its resources for the benefit of people of ACD countries.

When asked whether ACD has the potential to serve as a “missing link” in Asian cooperation, Mehta said India views ACD as a unique continent-wide forum bringing together most of the countries in Asian continent. It has the potential of becoming an overarching organization in Asia. It can build on the existing subregional organizations.

The economic resurgence of Asian continent provides growth opportunities to build mutually beneficial relationships among Asian countries.

Asia needs a new system

Iranian Ambassador Ruhullah Qahramani

T

he Asian continent is the cradle of immortal human civilizations. Most reformists, prophets and messengers set out from Asia, carrying messages of

peace, love and fraternity. Asian peoplesí cultures have always blended with the principles of goodness and brotherhood. By reviewing history, one can easily notice that the conflicts and wars that broke out in the world had never originated in Asia and that they were rather imposed from outside.

Convening the First Asian Cooperation Conference here in Kuwait proves that, today, Asia needs a new system that values the principles of justice, brotherhood and intimacy amongst people; a system that ensures the rights of all peoples who long for human dignity and respect, which cannot be achieved without effective participation and contributions of all countries and peoples in charting a

brighter future.

Achieving Asian cooperation is our means to bridging the economic gaps our people suffer from and this, in turn, will be for the good of the peoples of the entire world. The ninth meeting of the forum that was held two years ago in the Iranian capital witnessed discussion of highly elaborate studies and practical proposals on energy, fighting poverty, agricultural and food security development, commercial and cultural investments, the environment, e-commerce, virtual education, tourism and human resources.

The Iranian delegationís participation as the president of the NonAlignment Movementís Conference will surely add more significance to the activities and accomplishments

of the forum. It will also achieve the communication sought with fellow non-alignment movement members.

The soaring economic crises in most western countries requires more discussion, studies on how to boost Asian economic cooperation, face such crises, prevent their potential effect on our nations and contribute in achieving global economic stability.

The annual Asian conventions are a solid proof of the liveliness of this continentís peoples as well as the keenness of their leaders to strengthen relations and boost cooperation through the best utilization of endless potential and achieving the aspired levels of progress, development and welfare.

A testimony to Kuwait’s conviction

H

osting the Asia Cooperation port the execution of recommendations it Dialogue summit is a testimony to comes up with. The ACD forum is sure to Kuwait’s conviction about the boost cooperation among members of this importance of economic development, and prominent economic coalition, which is expected to reflect positiveto the leading role it plays ly on efforts to attract ecoin the economy and economic projects and investnomic development fields ments to the Gulf locally, regionally and interCooperation Council and nationally. Chairing the first Asian states, both from ACD summit underlines inside or outside the contiKuwait’s position as part of nent. It would help establish a basic economic system for economic and security stamember states. bility in the region; as the The United Arab summit already proves that Emirates’ invitation to take the GCC enjoys economic part in the event on the security compared to other highest level comes not economic unions around only as being a member of the world. the ACD, but also as a testaWe in the UAE are filled ment to the UAE’s stable with pride that the State of economy and the country’s Dr. Ali Ahmad Bin Shukr ability to overcome the Ambassador of the United Kuwait hosts an event featuring countries with direct global financial crisis in Arab Emirates impact on the global econorecord time. This position allows the UAE to aspire to leave a positive my, and at the same time feel confident of impression at the summit through partici- Kuwait’s ability to make this significant conpation that is in line with the objectives and ference a success, given its wonderful repuvision sought during the event. As the tation of hosting major economic events. world is currently positioned between com- We are certain that the conference will bating economic powers, the UAE seeks to come up with a positive statement that exert all efforts to make this event a suc- supports the economic growth of the GCC cess, and provide all that is required to sup- and ACD member states.

Major role for Asians

T

he First Asia Cooperation Dialogue ship has in abundance a wide experience Summit takes place at a time in in hosting conferences that the entire which Asia became a major political world today sorely needs today due to and economic power in the world, in addi- their importance in contributing to the stability of international peace tion to being a stabilizand security. His Majesty ing factor in internationKing Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa al security today. of the Kingdom of Bahrain The summit is being signified the importance of held amid crucial circumtaking part in the summit by stances, and as per inviaccepting the kind invitation tation of His Highness sent by HH the Amir of the Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad State of Kuwait. His Majesty’s Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the participation further gives a Amir of the State of greater indication about Kuwait who is known for Bahrain’s commitment to his political experience share with leaders of other and foresight that qualifies him to lead a confer- Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Asian countries its future ambitions to sustain internaence of such caliber. Al Khalifa Kuwait’s political leader- Ambassador of the Bahrain tional peace.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

local

KUWAIT: On occasion of the 101st Double-Tenth day of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Taipei Commercial Representative office in Kuwait representative and Mrs Kuo-Hsing Liu hosted reception at Marina Hotel over the weekend. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

Tribes wary of electoral change KUWAIT: The relationship between major tribal communities in Kuwait and the state’s leadership is going to be negatively affected by rumored governmental plans to change the electoral law and introduce a mechanism that limits tribal influence in two constituencies, a leading oppositionist said recently.

“Speculations hinting that an emergency decree to reduce the number of votes to two or one is aimed to hurt major tribes in the fourth and fifth constituencies are very dangerous”, former MP Khalid Al-Sultan said in a statement Friday. His remarks were resounded simultaneously with comments made by Nayef Jassim AlShemmary, an elder of the Shummar tribe, in which he indicated that a change to the division of constituencies or voting mechanism “will lead automatically to boycotting elections”. Chief of the Awazem tribe Falah bin Jame’a, and Ajmi tribe elder Mohammad Salman Bin Huthaileen had expressed similar sentiments in statements last week.

The recent developments come as the opposition continue to gear up for public protests and hope to garner support to their cause in which they call for elections to be carried out as per the current law; which divides Kuwait into five constituencies and entitles each citizen to a maximum of four votes. At least 34 oppositionists won majority seats in elections held last February and were annulled by a Constitutional Court ruling four months later that reinstated the 2009 Parliament.

The opposition’s movements are met by reactions, described as “escalated level of speech”, highlighted by alleged calls for mutiny and violation of HH the Amir’s authority. In addition to most pro-government lawmakers in the dissolved 2009 Parliament, political groups including the Kuwait Democratic Forum, National Democratic Alliance and Islamist Salafist Assembly, in addition to social groups including the Society for Social Reform, released statements over the past few days calling for no changes to the electoral law, but urging for respect to the will of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

Article 71 of the Kuwaiti Constitution gives HH the Amir the authority to release emergency decrees while the Parliament is inactive, addressing subjects considered of high importance. Said laws are viewed by the elected Parliament during its first session, and MPs have the authority to overrule them. The opposition believes that the Cabinet seeks to change the electoral law and come up with a system that favors pro-government candidates in order to prevent oppositionists from taking control of majority seats. Progovernment MPs, who felt marginalized in the Parliament annulled last June after the court reinstated the 2009 Parliament, push for an amended electoral law in which the number of votes per voter is reduced. In their opinion, a system in which a voter is entitled to one or two votes reflects more accurate results to citizens’ orientations.

ABK Concierge Services for MasterCard World cardholders KUWAIT: ‘ABK Concierge Services’ offers personalized and localized support services for ABK MasterCard World cardholders. With the help of this exclusive service, cardholders can leave the ground work to someone else, so they find more time to focus on important aspects of their life and business.

This luxury benefit provides services ranging from simple restaurant reservations to planning a Stewart Lockie family vacation. The ‘Concierge’ delivers a personal-assistant service by organizing and arranging day-to-day activities which may include taxi services, maid or nanny assistance, car servicing or road assistance, or even private cooking classes and sports lessons.

Stewart Lockie, General Manager for the Retail Banking Division commented “At ABK, we want our ABK MasterCard World Cardholders to be rewarded and recognized by delivering the highest level of personal service, usually only associated with a personal assistant.”

Lockie added “ABK Concierge delivers quick and accessible quality service, via telephone or e-mail, permitting our premium customers to focus on the more important things in their lives.” For more details on our ABK MasterCard World, please visit any ABK branch or call Ahlan Ahli 1899 899.

‘Bedoon protesters left with serious injuries’ Excessive violence used

By A. Saleh KUWAIT: A number of political and human rights groups released a joint statement yesterday condemning the government’s policy towards the stateless people’s demonstrations in Kuwait, saying it resulted in “serious injuries” and “permanent disabilities” to protesters.

“Not only did the government use excessive violence against peaceful Bedouin demonstrators on October 12, 2012 leaving many with serious injuries, but it also failed to take measures to prosecute those police officers who violated their legal authority and used unprecedented violence and adopted an arbitrary approach against the participants at the sit-in,” the statement read.

The statement said serious injuries such as bone fractures and open wounds were “a result of attacks with batons and merciless dragging”, in addition to burns caused by “smoke and sound bombs shot directly at the demonstrators with an intention to injure them.” It also indicated that a Bedouin demonstrator named Abdullatif Al-Shemmary lost vision completely in one eye when he was “hurt by a rubber bullet.”

The statement was signed by the Group 29, the Kuwait Human Rights Society, the Progressive Movement, the Kuwait Center for Active Citizenship, the Civil Constitutional Movement, the Umbrella for Kuwaiti Action, the Kuwait Democratic Forum, the Kuwaiti Bedouins Committee, the Kuwaiti Bedouins

Group, the Kuwaiti Lawyers Association, the National Democratic Alliance, and Sout AlKuwait (Voice of Kuwait).

Primary elections Major tribal groups in the fourth and fifth constituencies are meeting soon to discuss the mechanism for holding primary elections ahead of the upcoming elections which are expected to take place next December.

According to sources with knowledge of the issue, the Mutran, Ajman, Rashaidah and other tribes were “definitely staging primary elections” regardless of whether the electoral law remained unchanged, or the number of votes per voter was reduced from four to two, or one.

The sources, who spoke on the condition of

anonymity, further indicated that the Awazem tribe would not be boycotting the elections officially if the electoral law was changed as the tribe’s chief is expected to call his tribesmen to boycott the elections, but they could nevertheless contest without any affiliation to the tribe.

Martyrs’ Memorial The Bayan Co-op Society inaugurated a memorial outside the main market in block two to commemorate Kuwaiti martyrs who fell during the 1990/91 Iraqi invasion. “The Martyr’s Monument is an embodiment of Kuwaitis’ national unity and commitment to their land and legitimate leadership,” said the chairman of the society’s board, Yassir Al-Kandari, in a statement yesterday.

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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

Local

Early diagnosis helps solve learning difficulties American expert in town

By Nawara Fattahova

KUWAIT: Australian Ambassador Robert Tyson visited Kuwait Times over the weekend and discussed matters of mutual concern with KT Editor-in-Chief Abd Al-Rahman Al-Alyan.

Officer offers bribe to smuggle drugs into jail KUWAIT: Search is on for a police officer and his accomplice who offered bribe to a jail security officer in lieu of help in smuggling drugs to a prisoner inside the Central Jail. A case was filed after an officer from the General Department of Correctional Facilities reported that he was approached while standing at the Central Jail’s gate by a fellow officer and a man who had in the past spent time in jail and offered KD6,000 to smuggle drugs into the facility. The renegade officer disappeared before the case could be reported. Investigations are on to trace him and his accomplice.

Student dies A student died of natural causes during a recent school trip, according to preliminary tests. The incident took place in Al-Saberiya where a 14-year-old American girl collapsed suddenly while taking part in an activity with classmates. The girl died despite resuscitation attempts carried out by the trip’s supervisors and later by paramedics who responded to an emergency call. The body was taken to the Jahra Hospital where medical examination revealed that she had suffered a heart attack.

Fatal crash A male driver was killed in an accident between a sedan and a truck at the Wafra Road on Friday afternoon. Paramedics pronounced the 34year-old Syrian man dead on the scene, while the truck’s Bengalese driver, who was unharmed in the crash, was arrested for investigations. A case was filed.

Kidnap foiled Investigations are on to trace two male suspects who tried to kidnap a woman at a bus stop in Al-Ahmadi, though unsuccessfully. The Filipina woman was waiting for a bus all alone when she was approached by two men in training suits. They first offered to take her to her destination, and then offered KD30 to get inside their car. The two eventually tried to forcibly put the woman into the vehicle but the ensuing commotion caught attention of the people, forcing the suspects to escape.

The woman was escorted to the police station to file a case after the police could not find the suspects in the surrounding areas.

A man was arrested in Al-Ferdous recently when he fired gunshots during a wedding. Police had to rush to the spot where the shooting was reported, and found the suspect still firing shots from his car’s window. The man threw the gun towards his companion sitting in the passenger’s seat after seeing the police approaching. He was taken into custody to face charges.

Company theft An accountant disappeared after stealing KD5,000 from a trade office, according to the owner’s statements to Farwaniya police. When the suspect went missing, the employer went to check the safe, only to find that the cash had been stolen. After finding the employee’s phone switched off, he reported the case to the police. A ban was issued on the suspect’s travel as investigations were on to trace him.

Drug possession A couple was arrested at the chalets road after being caught in a drunken state and in possession of drugs. Patrol officers who had pulled over the couple’s car, immediately realized that they were inebriated, and found 130 Captagon pills during a search of the vehicle. The man, who was driving, admitted that the female companion was his girlfriend after failing to provide proof that she was a relative. The two were taken to the proper authorities to face charges.

Meanwhile, two young men were arrested in Sulaibiya for possessing hashish and 70 drug pills. The arrest came early on Friday morning when the patrol officers pulled over their car and searched them after they betrayed signs of nervousness. They were taken to the Drug Control General Department for further action.

Family feud Five people, all relatives, were arrested after they were found involved in a violent clash which they resumed even at the Farwaniya Hospital later. Police rushed to a location in Farwaniya where a fight among knifewielding young men was reported, but the suspects had disappeared by then. The police found blood traces on the scene. Minutes later, they were notified about a fight at the hospital among a group of injured young men who turned out to be the same group. The five were taken into custody after receiving treatment as investigations revealed that the clash was sparked by old unsettled family disputes.

Gulf Bank, X-cite offer customers exclusive discounts KUWAIT: Gulf Bank credit card and red(tm) debit card holders are able to enjoy an exciting range of exclusive discounts of up to 25% on IT accessories and software, as well as receiving cash coupons of KD10 when they buy a laptop, tablet, iPhone 4S, Samsung Galaxy SII or SIII from X-Cite Alghanim stores. The Gulf Bank offer, which runs from of Oct 1 to 31, will be valid in all X-cite Alghanim’s stores in Kuwait.

Gulf Bank’s collaboration with X-cite Alghanim gives credit card holders and red(tm) student account holders a unique opportunity to get great savings on a wide range of products. This is especially appealing to red(tm) customers who can benefit from this exciting promotion as they show particular interest when it comes to the latest technology and gadgets.

Gulf Bank believes that customers expect real, tangible value from their bank, not just quality customer service. Regular offers and promotions are one way to demonstrate this value, as well as being a way of rewarding customers for placing their trust in the Bank’s services.

Gulf Bank’s credit cards and red(tm) debit cards offer customers more flexibility and convenience when shopping, as well as on-going offers and great discounts at many outlets across Kuwait.

To find out more about Gulf Bank’s promotions, customers can either visit the Bank’s website at www.e-gulfbank.com, or call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805, or visit one of Gulf Bank’s 56 branches for assistance and guidance.

KUWAIT: As a part of its annual activities, the Center for Child Evaluation and Teaching (CCET) invited Prof Malt Joshi from the United States to present a lecture on “Reading and writing - a public health issue” on Wednesday evening. This lecture was sponsored by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences.

In its efforts to develop its own teachers, the CCET regularly invites international scientists to present lectures.

“Prof Malt Joshi is an international expert on learning difficulties, and a professor at the University of Texas A & M, USA, apart from being the Editor-in-Chief of the scientific journal ‘Reading and Writing’. His research is mainly in the field of literacy acquisition across different languages and concentrates on teacher preparation and development and methods of early diagnosis of reading and writing difficulties,” Dr Abir Abdullah Al-Sharhan, the Assistant Director for Technical Affairs at the CCET, told the Kuwait Times.

“We invited him to present this lecture as he is a specialist in the field, and the audience could benefit from his lecture. We always invite scientists as they have facts based on actual studies to present, and Joshi did many studies on English, Arabic, and other writing. He previously led many workshops on learn-

ing and spelling,” she further said.

“Such lectures improve the knowledge and skills of the teachers. It makes it easy for teachers to teach and deal with students. We also held workshops for public primary schools at the Mubarak Al Kabeer governorate. Furthermore the CCET has founded the Al

Prof Malt Joshi Sadeem School for boys for the Learning Difficulties (LD) children in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. We will soon launch the Al John Primary School for girls with LD, also in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, and to be funded by Ministry of Awqaf,” added Dr. Al-Sharhan.

Prof Malt Joshi, in his lecture on Wednesday, focused on the adverse effects that the lack of a proper early diagnosis of a child facing risk of reading and writing difficulties can have on the individual and the community.

Joshi spoke about problems of illiteracy based on data from the United States, and the reasons for that.

“Illiteracy is a public health issue. In the US, education is free and compulsory, still we see children not going to school. Fifteen percent of them drop out of high school, and 75 percent have reading problems. Only two percent of these students will complete a 4-year college program,” he pointed out.

In addition to the general lecture, Prof Joshi presented a workshop titled “The real magic of spelling: improving literacy” for the teachers and psychologist at the center. He also held another workshop on the same topic to the English language teachers of AlSadeem School at Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate and a part of the educational inclusion project, supervised by the CCET and in cooperation with the Ministry of Education.

The visit of Prof Joshi came as part of knowledge transfer and exchange among international specialists and experts in learning disabilities to help build local capacities, and support the specialized activities of the Center to best serve individuals with learning difficulties.

Human trafficking law ‘strongly pushed’ KUWAIT: The Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor is “strongly pushing” for bringing in a law to combat human trafficking through an emergency decree before the next parliament is elected, a local newspaper reported yesterday.

A draft law for the project was earlier presented by the Ministry of Justice to the parliament’s legislative and legal committee, but could not be discussed amid a political stalemate that saw no parliament sessions since June.

“The draft law sets more deterrent penalties against violators that range from ten years imprisonment, life in prison to even a death sentence in cases where a worker is forced to commit illegal activities such as prostitution,” ministry insiders told Al-Jarida newspaper on Thursday.

The law also includes a stipulation that allows Kuwait to prosecute suspects who facilitate human trade inside

Kuwait from countries that have extradition treaties with Kuwait, said the sources who wished to remain anonymous.

Separately, undersecretary assistant for labor affairs Jamaal Al-Dousary denied any rumors hinting that the ministry is considering a decision that allows expatriate labor forces to switch employers without condition of any working period. The current law indicates that employees can request to transfer their residency one year after employment for workers with college degree, and three years for those with a lower academic qualification.

Meanwhile, the director of the ministry’s Labor Department, Hadi Al-Enizy, told Al-Rai newspaper that fifteen security and cleaning companies were suspended following protests by workers who were not paid for months.

“The ministry ended the problem of labor protests through radical solutions that include suspended files of companies which fail to pay employees regularly, as well as strict monitoring of companies’ accounts in order to make sure that employees are being paid regularly,” Al-Enizy said.

A third measure saw blacklisting violating companies “to disqualify them automatically from bidding for tenders placed by state departments,” he added.

Al-Enizy, however, indicated that penalties are handed only after the ministry adopts due procedures to confirm that the violations were indeed committed. “The ministry attempts to help companies facing problems that prevent any firm to pay the employees regularly, and penalties are handed only after studying the reasons behind non payment,” Al-Enizy said.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

LOCAL

Majority Bloc statement ‘a disgrace’ to Kuwait Necessity decrees up to the Amir: Al-Mubarak

By A Saleh KUWAIT: Former MP Massouma Al-Mubarak stressed that Kuwait was currently witnessing a state of political chaos because of a group that claimed to be defending and protecting the constitution while, in fact, its members were in the forefront in violating it. “The statement made by the MPs of the Majority Bloc is a disgrace to Kuwait as they threatened stability and insulted the Amir,” she said, noting that the first step to stem the chaos was to reduce the number of votes to one per voter.

“I have called for convening the 2009 parliament to discuss the electoral constituencies law but my call was not heeded to,” she said, adding that according to article 71 of the constitution, HH the Amir was empowered to issue necessity decrees and that, once convened, the parliament can later debate there and accept or reject them. “Those threatening to boycott the elections are trying to put more pressure on HH the Amir, which is unacceptable,” she said.

Salwa gathering cancelled The head of the ‘Allah Yahfothek Ya Kuwait’ (May Allah Preserve You Kuwait) lawyer, Ali Al-

Ali announced cancellation of a meeting he had earlier called for to be held at 3 pm outside the Salwa Palace to express obedience to HH the Amir and condemn the slandering statements made by the majority MPs in the annulled 2012 parliament.

Al-Ali justified the cancellation of the meeting by saying it he did so as a mark of respect for Kuwait’s guests who will be here to participate in the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD).

He also said the cancellation was to help in security measures undertaken by the government.

Bedoon citizenship lists Any news about grant of citizenship to a number of military and civilian bedoons was a mere rumor, well-informed sources have said.

“There will be no citizenship for bedoons this year,” the sources said, explaining that citizenship was currently being granted to the sons and daughters of those who have already been nationalized and offspring of widowed and divorced Kuwaiti women.

Economic partnership With an aim to boost investment and financial cooperation, Kuwait will suggest a project

during the upcoming GCC Summit in Bahrain that envisages an economic partnership between GCC states and the Northern Gulf states, namely Iraq and Turkey, informed sources said. The sources added that GCC members had initially approved the proposal but some of them believe that the time was not yet ripe for such partnerships due to tense relations among Baghdad, KSA and Bahrain.

KUFPEC borrows $750m Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Co. (KUFPEC) has started arrangements to borrow $ US 750 million to finance current and future projects.

In this regard, informed sources said that the board decided on borrowing the money without encountering any objections at an earlier KUFPEC board of directors meeting.

The sources added that the loans would be made from local and foreign banks that the company was currently studying the loan conditions in order to have the agreements signed by the end of the year. Notably, JUFPEC, which is headed by the oil minister, Hani Hussein, has some major projects in Asia, Europe and South America that are expected to make considerable profits.

Zain announces ‘Buy and Win’ winners KUWAIT: Zain, the leading telecommunications company in Kuwait, announced the winners of “Buy and Win”campaign for Wiyana Mix subscribers who received their prizes automatically because of being a subscriber to any of Wiyana Mix packages.

The company stated in a press release that Ezat Mohammad Mohammad has won a cruise trip to the far east, in addition to a large number of winners and amounts of money. Zain congratulated the winners of the first draw of the”Buy and Win” campaign announcing more prizes for subscribers to any Wiyana Mix packages.

The special promotion, available to current and new customers who have post-paid lines and commit to a 18month plan, all Wiyana Mix subscribers will be shown a world of surprises. The gifts will be distributed to every subscriber of Wiyana Mix package worth KD 10 and more. The higher the subscription plan, the greater the prize, Zain said in a press release.

A great number of tickets to various exotic destinations and the eligibility of

every Wiayana Mix subscriber to receive a prize makes this campaign unique at the market. The campaign features many prizes ranging from cruises to Spain, tickets for the Formula 1 in Abu Dhabi, Safari trips in South Africa, snorkeling in the Maldives, to money vouchers, discounts and devices.

Zain said, “The aim of this campaign is to bring Zain even closer to our customers and to create a synergy that enhances our mutual relationship. We seek to promote initiatives that provide the greatest convenience to all our customers and which bring them exotic gifts and surprises.”

Zain said that all its customers will be updated regularly about many of the services and innovative campaigns that meet their communication needs. In a press release Zain said, “We will do our best to provide the utmost convenience to our customers by enabling them with fast and secure means of communication. We remain committed to providing our customers with the best service through promoting initiatives that seek the best comfort for all our customers.”

INJAZ holds i-Camp workshop KUWAIT: INJAZ Kuwait, the Kuwait-chapter of the global youth empowerment NGO Junior Achievement (JA), yesterday held its first innovation camp “i-Camp” in Kuwait for high school male students, in collaboration with the Farwaniya School District. The camp is a full-day supervised workshop that places students in a challenging environment, encouraging them to think critically and analytically while working in teams throughout the day.

JA is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. INJAZ Kuwait is a private-sector driven non-profit NGO that works on developing and building business and entrepreneurial skills of Kuwait’s youth.

Yesterday’s i-Camp workshop was supported by Dr Yousef Al-Ebrahim, Advisor to HH the Amir of Kuwait and HH Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikha Reem Ali AlSabah, Board Member and Owner of Quality Stream for Human Resources Consulting and Training, Badriya AlKhaldi, General Manager of Al-Farwaniya School District, and Najy Al-Zamil, Director of Educational Activities.

A total of 82 students from 12 high schools in the Farwaniya School District took part in the six-hour workshop.

Student training and guidance were provided by 19 volunteers from the National Youth Project (NYP). The NYP volunteers who have impressive career accomplishments, guided the students and helped them overcome the challenges posed to them during yesterday’s workshop.

By the end of the workshop, students were required to apply the knowledge they acquired to solve a real-life business challenge that was presented to them.

Each solution was then evaluated by the

NYP team and a winner was chosen.

INJAZ Kuwait’s CEO, Rana Al-Nibari, said, “We are glad to witness continued and immense support from Kuwait’s business community and major institutions towards INJAZ’s programs. We are relentlessly working towards empowering students year after year by helping them gain critical thinking and teamwork skills, which falls in line with our main objective to build and develop the skills of our youth which will ultimately enable them to play an effective role in the national economy.”

Head of the National Youth Project, Jassim Al-Rubaian, said: “A group of experienced NYP Kuwaiti professionals are volunteering today to help and guide the high school students to think critically and gain the skills required from them in the future, within the fields of business, finance, and entrepreneurship, as we believe in the importance of volunteer work in improving the country and its people by developing the human capital.”

Founded in 2005, INJAZ Kuwait (INJAZ) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization driven by Kuwait’s private sector. Through strategic partnerships with Kuwait’s business and education sectors, and with the help of qualified and dedicated volunteers, INJAZ delivers educational programs on entrepreneurial and leadership skills aimed at inspiring and educating future generations. Since 2005, INJAZ Kuwait has reached over 25,000 students from more than 25 schools and universities, thanks to over 800 volunteers-and growing. INJAZKuwait connects corporate volunteers to mentor youth through JA programs.

Volunteers undergo orientation and training before they embark on their mentoring experience to enhance their readiness as well as performance during mentoring sessions to inspire the youth.

KUWAIT: The Ambassador of Brazil Roberto Abdalla hosted a reception at Missoni Hotel on the occasion of the 190th Anniversary of Independence. High-ranking officials, diplomats, Brazilian community members, businessman and media people attended the reception. — Photos by Joseph Shagra

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

BBC under fire over Savile sex abuse allegations Page 10

US warning underscores fears of Iran cyberattack Page 8

ALEPPO: A Syrian man cries while holding the body of his son, killed by the Syrian Army, near Dar Al Shifa hospital in Aleppo. — AP

Syria death toll hits 33,082 Security Council inaction encouraging Assad BEIRUT: Violence in Syria has killed at least 33,082 people, most of them civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said yesterday.

Some 1,000 people have been killed in the past five days alone, the Britainbased watchdog said. “This is all-out war-there is no other way to describe the violence in Syria,” Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said. At least 23,630 civilians have been killed, along with 8,211 soldiers and 1,241 army defectors who joined the insurgency against President Bashar alAssad.

The Observatory’s civilian toll also includes non-military defectors who took up arms against the regime. “If the conflict ends and a full assessment is carried out on the ground, the toll may well turn out to be higher,” Abdel Rahman said. His group’s tallies do not count the many unidentified victims of the bloody conflict, nor do they include thousands of people missing and thought to be in detention. They also exclude thousands of pro-regime militiamen, Abdel Rahman said. The

Observatory relies on a network of activists, lawyers and medics on the ground inside Syria for its information.

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan rebuked the UN Security Council for inaction over Syria yesterday as war intensified across the country, saying the world body of superpowers was repeating mistakes that led to massacres in Bosnia in the 1990s. President Bashar Al-Assad’s forces used air strikes and artillery to bombard insurgents on several fronts in the 19-month-old conflict, which risks dragging in regional powers with no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough.

Turkey - increasingly entangled after having intercepted a Russian airliner carrying what it said were Russianmade munitions for the Syrian army, infuriating Moscow and Damascus - has led calls for intervention, including nofly zones enforced by foreign aircraft to stop deadly air raids by Assad’s forces.

But there is little chance of United Nations support for robust action given the opposition of veto-wielding Security Council members Russia and

China. “The UN Security Council has not intervened in the human tragedy that has been going on in Syria for 20 months, despite all our efforts,” Erdogan told a conference in Istanbul attended by dignitaries including Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby. “There’s an attitude that encourages, gives the green light to Assad to kill tens or hundreds of people every day.” The bloodshed has worsened markedly in the past two months although neither side has been able to gain a distinct advantage, with government force relying heavily on air power and artillery to batter the rebels.

Combat has been reported nationwide but the crucial strategic battles are being fought in an arc through western Syria, where most of the population lives. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was expected to meet UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi on the sidelines of the Istanbul conference later. UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon said this week Brahimi would visit Syria soon to try to persuade Assad to call an immediate ceasefire. —Agencies

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Iran will defeat enemy plots: Supreme leader TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader said yesterday that his country will defeat a combination of sanctions, military threats and “soft wars” launched by enemies trying to weaken Iran and force it to back down over its nuclear program. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s remarks, his third public speech in a week, came as tensions rise in the standoff between Iran and the West over Tehran’s nuclear program.

They follow a precipitous decline in Iran’s currency linked to economic sanctions imposed by the West, as well as remarks by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta highlighting the possibility of a cyberwar between Iran and the United States. “We should not neglect the enemy. The enemy enters through various ways. One day it’s talk of sanctions. Another day it’s talk of military aggression. And one day, it’s talk of soft war ... We have to be vigilant,” state TV quoted Khamenei as saying during a speech in northeast Iran yesterday. “But they should rest assured that ... our enemies will fail in all their conspiracies and tricks.”

The US and its allies accuse Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons.

Tehran has denied the charges, saying its program is peaceful and geared

News

in brief

‘Blasphemous’ Jesus play ATHENS: An American play portraying Jesus Christ as homosexual has set the scene for new tension in Greece between a resurgent neo-Nazi group and rights proponents who accuse its members of intimidation.

Police late on Friday briefly detained over 30 people outside an Athens theatre where the play Corpus Christi was playing, who were seeking to have the show banned. Originally staged in New York in 1998, Corpus Christi by Terrence McNally depicts Jesus and the Apostles as gay men living in modern-day Texas.

The neo-Nazi group Golden Dawn had sent several members, including some of its lawmakers, to block the doors of the theatre and turn away spectators on Thursday. “This is a blasphemous play,” lawmaker Ilias Panagiotaros told reporters, later unleashing a foulmouthed tirade against Albanians and homosexuals.

The play’s director Laertis Vassiliou was born in Albania.

“It was a night of terror,” said writer Petros Tatsopoulos, a lawmaker for the main opposition radical leftist party Syriza. “The Golden Dawn members twisted the doors so the actors could not get out, and to keep us from getting in,” he told Mega channel. Once on the fringe of Greek society, Golden Dawn has been flexing its muscles after picking up over 400,000 votes in recent elections on the back of immigration and crime fears.

Tibetan sets self ablaze BEIJING: The grandfather of a revered Tibetan Buddhist figure died yesterday after setting himself on fire in protest of Chinese rule, the London-based rights group Free Tibet said. The incident is the latest of dozens of self-immolations by Tibetans since 2009. Free Tibet said 52-year-old Tamdrin Dorjee died at the scene near Tsoe Monastery in northwestern China’s Gansu province. It said the man is the grandfather of the 7th Gungthang Rinpoche, believed by Tibetan Buddhists to be the reincarnation of an important religious figure.

Dorjee’s body was taken to his home village, Free Tibet said. Photos said to be from the scene show dozens of villagers and monks gathered around a body in smoke.

The self-proclaimed Tibetan government-in-exile confirmed the report. It said a heavy presence of paramilitary police in and around the monastery followed the self-immolation. More than 50 Tibetans have selfimmolated to protest China’s rule of the Himalayan region, and most of them have died, according to tallies by Tibetan rights groups. The government-in-exile has urged Tibetans not to give up their lives in selfimmolation protests. Meanwhile, it tries to gain international support for their struggles against China’s rule.

Calls to the government and police offices for Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, where the self-immolation took place, rang unanswered yesterday evening.

Iran ‘could halt uranium enrichment if given fuel’ DUBAI: Iran would negotiate on halting higher-grade uranium enrichment if given fuel for a research reactor, senior officials said, reviving a previous offer in a possible attempt to show flexibility in stalled nuclear talks with world powers. The talks have made scant progress since resuming in April, leading to harsher Western sanctions against Iran and increasing talk of Israeli air strikes on its arch-adversary over concerns Tehran is covertly seeking the means to develop nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic’s economy is suffering from the tightened noose of sanctions, with the rial currency losing nearly two-thirds of its value to the dollar over the past year. “If a guarantee is provided to supply the 20 percent (enriched) fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor, our officials are ready to enter talks about 20 percent enrichment,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said at a Eurasian media forum in Kazakhstan on Friday, according to Iran’s Press TV. Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi told the German newsmagazine Der Spiegel earlier in the week: “If our right to enrichment is recognized, we are prepared to offer an exchange. We would voluntarily limit the extent of our enrichment program, but in return we would need a guaranteed supply of the relevant fuels from abroad.”

At the heart of Iran’s dispute with world powers is its insistence on the right to enrich uranium and that economic sanctions should be lifted before it stops activities that could lead to its achieving the capability to produce nuclear weapons. The United States and European allies reject such conditions. They say Iran forfeited a right to enrich by having concealed sensitive nuclear work from UN inspectors and blocking their inquiry into suspected bomb research. —Reuters

toward generating electricity and producing radioisotopes to treat cancer patients. The West are pursuing a twopronged strategy that includes a mix of sanctions and diplomacy to try to force Tehran to halt uranium enrichment, a technology that can be used to produce nuclear fuel or materials for use in a warhead.

But the West has not ruled out the possibility of military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, and Panetta made a pointed warning on Thursday that the US will strike back against a cyberattack, underscoring the Obama administration’s growing concern that Iran could be the first country to unleash cyberterrorism on America.

Tehran for its part announces the discovery of computer viruses at nuclear, industrial and government sites. It blames the West and Israel. Israel has said little to deflect suspicion that it tries to infect some Iranian systems.

Iranian leaders have been consistently defiant, announcing measures they say the Islamic Republic is taking to evade sanctions, defeat cyberattacks, and prepare to repulse or retaliate for a military strike. “Many politicians ... in the US, Britain and other countries ... employed all their might and designs with the assumption they

could bring the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation to its knees. They are gone and even their names are forgotten but the Iranian nation is present by the grace of God,” Khamenei said.

Iranian leaders have also argued that it can always find customers for its oil and that the West is hurting itself, more than Iran, by cutting itself off from Iranian crude exports. Khamenei said Wednesday that European countries are “foolish” to support sanctions against Tehran, telling them they are sacrificing themselves for the sake of the United States. But they also admit that sanctions are taking a bite. Iran’s currency - already in steady decline for months - lost nearly 40 percent of its value earlier this month. It reached an all-time low of 35,500 to the dollar, down from 24,000 rials days earlier and close to 10,000 rials as recently as early 2011. It’s now fluctuating between 29,000 rials to 32,000 rials in the open market. The decline set off limited, one-day protests in Tehran’s market district.

The plummet of the rial was blamed on a combination of Iranian government mismanagement and the bite from tighter sanctions. Both measures have reduced the amount of

ISMAILIA: A picture taken from the Egyptian port of Ismalia, 120 kilometers northeast of Cairo, shows US army naval ship USS Nitze crossing the Suez Canal. The USS Nitze just completed its tour of war games with the US Navy carrier strike group in the Arabian Gulf, near to coast of Iran, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. — AFP foreign currency coming into the country. Khamenei urged the nation to consume Iranian products and shun foreign goods to support domestic production. “We should choose what we consume from among our own products. That some are always after

foreign brands and names is wrong,” he said. “Domestic consumption increases domestic production. When domestic production is increased, it will tackle unemployment and reduces inflation. These are all connected to each other.”—AP

White House struggles to contain new Libya storm Romney accuses Biden of ‘doubling down on denial’ WASHINGTON: Mitt Romney has accused Vice President Joe Biden of “doubling down on denial” as the White House struggled to combat a growing storm over the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi.

The latest exchanges battered an administration repeatedly thrown onto the defensive by the political reverberations of the attack on September 11 which killed US ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and three other Americans. White House spokesman Jay Carney was forced Friday to clarify remarks

by Biden which appeared to contradict evidence that US officials refused extra security for US posts in Libya prior to the Benghazi assault. “ The vice president was speaking about himself and the president and the White House.

Obviously he wasn’t talking (about) the administration writ large,” Carney said. Biden said in his campaign debate on Thursday with Romney’s running mate Paul Ryan that “we weren’t told they wanted more security.” Republican nominee Romney pounced on those remarks as he sought to splinter Obama’s reputation as a strong commander-in-chief, 25 days from Election Day. “He’s doubling down on denial,” Romney said in Virginia. “When the Vice President of the United States directly contradicts the testimony-sworn testimony-of State Department officials, American citizens have a right to know just what’s going on.”

Carney said the vice president was aware of the testimony by US security officials at a congressional hearing on

Wednesday that extra protection for the posts had been requested and then denied.

“Nowhere in those four hours of testimony was it suggested that those requests were made essentially to the White House because that is not how this works,” Carney said. The lack of a direct tie so far between Obama

Victoria Nuland agreed that generally, such issues were handled inside the State Department. “I obviously don’t have any information to contradict what the vice president said, if that’s what you’re asking,” she told reporters. The latest developments would be a headache at any time for the

into the fray Friday amid Republican claims the administration was too slow to brand the attack as terrorism and has frequently changed its story on what happened.”To this day, to this day ... we do not have a complete picture, we do not have all the answers,” Clinton said.

BENGHAZI: A security guard smiles to a journalist at the entrance of US consulate in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.— AFP and the security situation at the Benghazi post gives the White House a plausible defense, but has not stopped fierce Republican efforts to make the president pay a political price.

Protection issues related to Libya diplomatic posts and elsewhere were dealt with in the appropriate place-at the State Department-and not at the White House, Carney said. State Department spokeswoman

White House, but are especially nettlesome given Obama’s looming date with voters on November 6.

The Obama campaign hit back, again accusing Romney of politicizing a national security crisis, with spokeswoman Lis Smith saying “the American people deserve more from someone who wants to be Commander-in-Chief.” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also rode

She also defended US ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, who had said on the Sunday after the attack that it appeared to be a “spontaneous” protest over an anti-Muslim film made on US soil and posted on YouTube. Subsequent evidence have suggested there was no major protest outside the consulate, and that the plot was planned by local militants, possibly with help from several out-

side extremists. Clinton said that Rice was acting on the same intelligence assessments that every other government official had at the time.

“We can only tell you what we know based on our most current understanding of the attack, and what led up to it.

Obviously we will know more as time goes by. And we will know even more than we did hours and days after the attack.” Two US officials testified on Wednesday that requests for extra support for US posts in Tripoli and Benghazi had been refused. “It was abundantly clear: We were not going to get resources until the aftermath of an incident,” regional security officer Eric Nordstrom told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing. Nordstrom said he sought to bolster security by asking for 12 more agents, but was told by a State Department regional director that he was asking for the “sun, moon and the stars.”

Late Friday, The New York Times reported that in the weeks leading up to the killings of Stevens and the other Americans, US diplomats in Libya indeed sent out a stream of diplomatic cables, warning of a worsening threat from Islamic extremists and requesting that the teams of military personnel and security guards who were already on duty be kept in service. But the requests-ultimately denied-were largely focused on extending the tours of security guards at the US Embassy in Tripoli, not at the diplomatic compound in Benghazi, the paper said.—AFP

US warning underscores fears of Iran cyberattack WASHINGTON: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s pointed warning that the US will strike back against a cyberattack underscores the Obama administration’s growing concern that Iran could be the first country to unleash cyberterrorism on America. Panetta’s unusually strong comments Thursday came as former US government officials

and cybersecurity experts said the US believes Iranian-based hackers were responsible for cyberattacks that devastated computer systems of Persian Gulf oil and gas companies. Unencumbered by diplomatic or economic ties that restrain other nations from direct conflict with the US, Iran is an unpredictable foe that national security

TEHRAN: Iranian photojournalist Maryam Rahmanian checks the newly launched website of Iran’s Intelligence Ministry, in Tehran. A glimpse into the shadow world of Iran’s main spy agency is now a click away. In an unexpected display of outreach, the Intelligence Ministry now hosts a website with addresses of provincial offices, appeals for tips and antiAmerican essays that mock rising obesity rates, large prison populations and school shootings. — AP

experts contend is not only capable but willing to use a sophisticated computer-based attack.

Panetta made it clear that the military is ready to retaliate - though he didn’t say how - if it believes the nation is threatened by a cyberattack, and he made it evident that the US would consider a preemptive strike.

“Iran is a country for whom terror has simply been another tool in their foreign policy toolbox, and they are a country that feels it has less and less to lose by breaking the norms of the rest of the world,” said Stewart Baker, former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security and now in private law practice. “If anybody is going to release irresponsible unlimited attacks, you’d expect it to be Iran.”

National security experts have long complained that the administration needs to be much more open about what the military could and would do if the US were to be the victim of cyberattacks.

They argue that such deterrence worked in the Cold War with Russia and would help convince would-be attackers that an assault on America would have dire results. Panetta took the first steps toward answering those critics in a speech analysts said was a thinly

veiled warning to Iran, and the opening salvo in the campaign to convince Tehran that any cyberattack against America would trigger a swift and deadly response.

“Potential aggressors should be aware that the United States has the capacity to locate them and hold them accountable for actions that harm America or its interests,” Panetta said in a speech in New York City to the Business Executives for National Security.

And while he did not directly connect Iran to the Gulf cyberattacks, he warned that Iran’s abilities were growing. Security analysts agree.

The presumed Iranian cyberattacks hit the Saudi Arabian state oil company Aramco and Qatari natural gas producer RasGas using a virus, known as Shamoon, which can spread through networked computers and ultimately wipes out files by overwriting them.

In his speech, Panetta said the Shamoon virus replaced crucial system files at Aramco with the image of a burning US flag, and also overwrote all data, rendering more than 30,000 computers useless and forcing them to be replaced. He said the Qatar attack was similar. “This one worries me,” said Richard Bejtlich, chief security officer for the Virginia-based cybersecurity firm Mandiant. “I’m

not an alarmist, but when I saw that 30,000 computers at Saudi Aramco got just deleted, that was a big deal. You don’t see the Chinese government, you don’t see the Russian government, or even their patriotic hackers go out and delete anything for the most part.” From the Iranians’ point of view, however, attacks against the US may be justified because American sanctions leveled on the country for refusing to cooperate with international norms on its nuclear program have hit Iran hard. Tehran also believes that the US and Israel were behind the Stuxnet cyberattack that forced the temporary shutdown of thousands of centrifuges at a nuclear facility there in 2010.

As a result, said Bejtlich, Iran already believes it is at war with the US Frank Cilluffo, a former special assistant for homeland security to President George W Bush, said US authorities have suspected Iran of trying to plot cyberattacks against American targets, including nuclear plants.

And he said that Iran’s Revolutionar y Guard Corps appears to now be trying to bring some of the patriotic hacker groups under its control, so it can draw on their abilities.—AP

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Democrats cry foul over Voter’s fraud billboards Councilwoman says signs have ‘insidious impact’

OHIO: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov Mitt Romney greets supporters during a campaign rally in Lancaster, Ohio. —AP

15 states back Ohio in early voting case COLUMBUS: Fifteen states and several military organizations announced their support for Ohio’s elections chief on Friday in a dispute over early voting in the presidential battleground, which is being appealed to the US Supreme Court. Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted has appealed a lower court ruling that reinstates early voting on the three days before Election Day and returns discretion to local boards of elections. The Republican also has asked the Supreme Court to delay the lower court’s decision while it decides whether to take the case.

The campaign of President Barack Obama, which sued the state over the early voting, says a new Ohio law unfairly ends early, in-person voting for most Ohioans on the Friday evening before the Tuesday election, while allowing military and overseas voters to cast a ballot in person until Monday. Before the changes to the law, local boards of election had the discretion to set their own early, in-person voting hours on the days before the election. And in-person voting on the weekend varied among the state’s 88 counties.

Husted has argued that all counties should have the same early voting hours and be open on the same days. The 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals last week reinstated early voting on the final three days. But the three -judge panel also said local boards of elections would have the discretion to decide whether to allow voters to cast an early ballot on the weekend and Monday before Election Day - just as they could in 2008. “While we readily acknowl-

edge the need to provide military voters more time to vote, we see no corresponding justification for giving others less time,” Judge Eric L Clay wrote in the opinion.

Attorneys general for 15 states said in a court filing Friday that the Constitution gives states exclusive power to set the time, place and manner for voting. They also said the appeals court overstated the significance of eliminating those days, since Ohio already provides 23 days for in-person or absentee early voting. The states also say the lower court disregarded the special status of military voters. “It is not irrational for Ohio to have done so here given the personal sacrifice and special circumstances of those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our country’s freedom,” the states argued. The Obama campaign asked the Supreme Court on Friday to deny Ohio’s appeal of the lower court’s ruling. The campaign said Husted has not shown a likelihood of success and the facts of the case are unique to Ohio without broad implication elsewhere. “ The Ohio system ... is unique,” the campaign argued. Nowhere “else in the country will an eligible voter be turned away from a single, open polling place because the polling place is open for some voters, but not for that particular voter.” Husted disagreed, saying the case has widespread impact.

“If allowed to stand, the precedent set by this decision in the state of Ohio will have far reaching consequences for all 50, whether they are ‘red,’ ‘blue,’ or ‘swing’ states,” Husted said in a statement. —AP

CLEVELAND: Democratic lawmakers and activists nationwide are angry about a crop of billboard signs posted in early October in the Cleveland and Milwaukee areas that warn of stiff penalties for voter fraud. The roughly 33 signs warn that “Voter Fraud is a Felony” punishable by up to 3-1/2 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, wording flanked by a large picture of a judge’s gavel. The signs will be up through the Nov 6 election day in the Cleveland and Milwaukee areas and were paid for by an anonymous “Family Foundation,” according to a spokesman for Clear Channel Outdoor, which owns the billboards and placed the signs.

Legal and labor activists and community members said the signs deliberately target and seek to intimidate blacks and Hispanics, other minorities and the poor - as well as exconvicts - groups key to Democrats’ campaign voter drives ahead of the vote. “The billboards create a chilling effect,” said Marcia Johnson-Blanco, a co-director at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, an advocacy group that asked Clear Channel Outdoor to remove the signs. “It certainly leads to an atmosphere where some will think twice

about voting,” Johnson-Blanco said, adding Clear Channel Outdoor has not responded to the group’s request. Some of the signs were placed in white, although relatively poor, neighborhoods of Cleveland and Lorain, roughly 30 miles west.

Democrats and Republicans alike are working overtime to drive early voting in a handful of states, such as Ohio, that could decide if Democrats retain control of the White House and Senate on Election Day. Turnout of urban minority and young voters was crucial to lifting President Barack Obama to the White House in 2008. Republicans have worked to stiffen voting laws and bolster campaign field operations to prevent voter fraud. City Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland, who represents a par t of Cleveland where most of the city’s voting billboards are located, said the signs have “an insidious impact and they are designed to intimidate.”

“I’m worried they will actually scare some of the ex-offenders, people with felony records who can vote,” Cleveland said, explaining that there is confusion about felons voting because in some states it is ille-

gal. Signs similar to those in Cleveland and Milwaukee were placed in Wisconsin during the 2010 mid-term elections, when Republicans made huge gains in Congress.

“There is a great deal of incompetence in how our voter registration rolls are maintained and how records are kept, although we actually see very little fraud taking place at the voting place,” said Richard Hasen, a professor of law and political science at University of California, Irvine.

The signs do not amount to voter suppression, Hasen said. “It’s true that voter fraud is a felony and we don’t want people committing voter fraud,” Hasen said. The content of the message is not governed by campaign advertising regulations requiring disclosure of funding sources, said the Clear Channel Outdoor spokesman, David Yale, adding that billboards were placed in areas to “reach maximum saturation” and not to racially and socio-economically profile. Ohio State Senator Nina Turner disagreed. “This message was targeted, planned and not only because the neighborhoods are African American but because they are poor,” Turner said.—Reuters

Gupta to be sentenced Oct 24 in federal court NEW YORK: Bill Gates and Kofi Annan are among several prominent businessmen and humanitarians asking a US judge to show fairness when he sentences former Goldman Sachs Group Inc board member Rajat Gupta for his insider trading conviction later this month.

Gupta, 63, the most influential and best-known corporate figure to be caught in a broad insider trading crackdown of the last four years, moved in elite business and philanthropic circles for decades.

He is also a former head of the McKinsey & Co management consultancy. A jury convicted Gupta in June of tipping his friend and business associate, Galleon Group hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam, about Goldman’s boardroom secrets during the financial crisis.

He was found not guilty of divulging the quarterly earnings in January 2009 of Procter & Gamble Co, where he also served as a board member.

Microsoft Corp co-founder Gates, in one letter among about 200 written to US District Judge Jed Rakoff, wrote that he wanted to help “round out Rajat’s profile as you consider the

appropriate sentence for him.” Gates worked with Gupta when Gupta was chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Gates wrote that “many millions of people are leading better lives - or are alive at all - thanks to the efforts he so ably supported.”

The judge released the letters on Friday night ahead of the Oct 24 sentencing in Manhattan federal court at the request of a reporter from the Wall Street Journal.

Prosecutors and Gupta’s lawyers gave their consent, the judge said. The letters came from company heads, academics, friends and family, including his wife and four adult daughters.

Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in his letter, said: “I urge you to recognize Rajat for the good he has done in the world, to give him the credit that he deserves for helping others and to take into account his efforts to improve the lives of millions of people.” One of the themes running through many of the letters was that not enough of Gupta’s humanitarian work came out at his trial. The judge had puts limits on what the jury could hear about Gupta’s philanthropy. His wife,

Anita Gupta, wrote, “I know I have to accept the decision of the jury but I cannot but feel that who my husband is and what he stands for did not fully come out at the trial.” The maximum sentence for securities fraud is 20 years and the maximum sentence for conspiracy is five years, although it seems unlikely that Gupta would receive such a heavy punishment following his conviction on those charges.

Rajaratnam was convicted of 14 counts of securities fraud and conspiracy last year and is serving an 11-year prison term. Gupta, who lives in Westport, Connecticut, is also a former director at American Airlines Corp and had ties to a prominent business school in his native India. Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein was a star government witness at the trial, where some of the evidence was based on wiretaps of phone conversations between Gupta and Rajaratnam.

All of the counts Gupta was convicted of involved tips and trades in Goldman stock in September and October 2008, including passing inside information on a crucial $5 billion investment by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc.—Reuters

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

US tipped again for Nobel Economics Prize; Europe lags STOCKHOLM: Americans top the list of favorites for tomorrow ’s Nobel Economics Prize, an award that increasingly rarely seems to go to a European.

The European Union was handed this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, but it seems unlikely that the continent will be home to the winner of the economics prize, which wraps up this year’s Nobel season. Among the names mentioned in economic circles are Americans Robert Shiller, who studies behavioral finance and the erratic movement of markets, Kenneth Rogoff and Carmen Reinhart, who specialize in public debt, and other topics that make the headlines less frequently, such as Paul Romer’s work on different types of growth.

Of those topping a list compiled by the US Federal Reserve Bank of the world’s most quoted economics researchers, only a handful of names

are European. Olivier Blanchard, a 63 year-old Frenchman who ranks eighth on the list, is seen as having little chance of winning the prize as he is currently the chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, a role deemed too political by many to make him a viable candidate. His compatriot Jean Tirole, from the Toulouse School of Economics, at number 11, is the highest placed out of those affiliated with a European university, but at 59 years of age he is considered too young. British Cypriot Christopher Pissarides, joint laureate in 2010 with two Americans, is the last European to have won, and the first academic from a European institution to be recognized since 1996. “I was myself shocked. I was not aware of it,” he wrote in an email to AFP. Before him, there was Norwegian Finn Kydland in 2004, whose entire academic career

was in the United States. Asked about the list by AFP, he joked: “I believe I’m from the country with the highest number of economics Nobels per capita in the world. Why aren’t the Americans, for example, doing even nearly as well?” The past 10 years’ 20 laureates and co-laureates include 17 Americans, of whom two are IsraeliAmericans.

The Nobel jury’s deliberations are shrouded in mystery and kept secret for 50 years, so it is difficult to know how the committee is thinking. Unlike the other Nobel prizes which have been handed out since 1901, the Bank of Sweden’s prize for economic sciences in memory of Alfred Nobelwhich wasn’t part of Alfred Nobel’s will that created the awards-was only given out for the first time in 1969. In its first 20 years, the prize was marked by European-American rivalry. But since

1990, the Americans have taken the lead. Today the economics prize is sometimes seen as a competition for a small group of American elite universities: Chicago, Columbia, Princeton, Harvard and MIT. The University of Zurich’s Bruno Frey, co-author of a 1993 study titled “American and European Economics and Economists”, argues that the “Europeans are imitating the Americans too much.” “In Europe we have too few original ideas, we’re constantly looking at what comes from the US. That doesn’t help get Nobel prizes,” he said. Another theory is that the Americans have benefited from a Swedish fascination with the liberal theories of the University of Chicago.

With 10 laureates, the university holds a record number of Nobel economics prizes. Olof Somell, who is responsible for the economy prize at Stockholm’s

Nobel Museum, refuted that idea: “The members of the Nobel Committee are chosen to represent a broad spectrum of economic sciences.”

It’s “impossible to answer simply the question of why” Europe has been in decline, he said. “But of course it has to do with the domination of US research in economic sciences. There is more research in the US than there is in Europe.” Robert Bergqvist, formerly of the Swedish central bank and today chief economist at bank SEB, pointed out that to get out of its financial and economic predicament, Europe could use some of the research by leading Nobel prize candidates, European or not. “How can you prevent imbalances from building up in the system? How can economic policy respond to that?” are the questions that European researchers may want to look at, he argued.— AFP

BBC under fire Savile sex abuse allegations sparks crisis

DAKAR: French President Francois Hollande (center left - in the car) and Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall wave to supporters lining a main road as they drive from the airport to the Presidential Palace in Dakar, Senegal. — AP

Hollande speaks out on rights, conflict at Francophone summit KINSHASA: Leaders of Frenchspeaking nations met for a summit in Kinshasa yesterday, with France’s President Francois Hollande stressing human rights and ending the rebellion in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Only some 15 heads of state of the Francophonie organization’s 75 member countries were present in the Congolese parliament building alongside their host, DR Congo’s President Joseph Kabila. Kabila, who had talks with Hollande earlier Saturday, was greeted with tumultuous applause as he arrived in the chamber, but elsewhere in the city police clashed with dozens of opposition demonstrators defying a ban on protests, witnesses said.

Hollande, who had earlier angered Kinshasa by saying that the situation in DR Congo was unacceptable with regard to rights, democracy and recognition of the opposition, rubbed the point home just before the summit opened. “Francophonie is not just the French language.

Speaking French also means speaking about human rights, because the rights of man were written in French,” he said, after talks with opposition representatives and NGOs, referring to the Universal Declaration drafted by French revolutionaries.

The situation in DR Congo, whose eastern regions are the theatre of violent rebellions and ethnic conflict, and in Mali, where radical Islamists have seized con-

trol of the north of the country, were expected to dominate the weekend summit. At the opening of the summit, Kabila spoke about “an unjust war imposed” by outsiders in the east of the country, without specifically mentioning Rwanda, accused by Kinshasa and the United Nations of backing rebels there.

“While our people are sparing no effort to improve their lives, negative forces beholden to outside interests have for several months worked to destabilize our country in Nord-Kive province”, on the eastern border with Rwanda, Kabila said. Hollande had earlier condemned the “outside attacks” in eastern DR Congo where the army is combating several militia groups in the mineral-

rich region, and called for renewing and re-enforcing the UN mission to the country (MONUSCO).

Rwandan President Paul Kagame was notably absent from the summit. His country has denied the charges of giving military support to the rebels.Earlier Saturday police used tear gas on some stone-throwing protesters opposed to the Kabila regime to break up the banned demonstration. Hollande, however, is expected to meet with the leader of opposition UPDS party, Etienne Tshisekedi, later Saturday in Kinshasa. The summit which runs through Sunday will also likely focus on the future of an organization that has struggled for relevancy since its creation in 1970.—AFP

Karadzic to begin defense against genocide charge THE HAGUE: Bosnian Serb wartime leader Radovan Karadzic opens his defense before the Yugoslav war crimes court on Tuesday, hoping to convince judges of his innocence regarding the 1995 Srebrenica massacre and other charges. Now 67, Karadzic denies the 10 charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity against him, committed by Bosnian Serb troops and officials during the Balkan nation’s bloody 1992-95 war in which 100,000 people died.

“He will expose his personal views on the crimes listed in the indictment,” his legal advisor Peter Robinson told AFP. Karadzic is representing himself before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (IC T Y ).

Karadzic and his notorious military alter ego Ratko Mladic, also on trial in The Hague, face a genocide charge for the massacre committed

by Bosnian Serb troops in the eastern Bosnian hilltown of Srebrenica in mid-July 1995.

There, almost 8,000 Muslim men and boys were systematically murdered and dumped into mass graves over the period of a few days after Bosnian Serb forces under Mladic overran the enclave under the protection of Dutch UN peacekeepers. The crime was the worst massacre on European soil since World War II. But Robinson said Karadzic will tell judges that although he did not deny people were killed in Srebrenica, “what he challenges is the scale of the massacre.”

“He (Karadzic) does not know how many people were killed, but

according to him it’s certainly not 7,000,” Robinson said, adding “no policy was implemented (at Srebrenica), he did not know prisoners would be executed.” Karadzic is also being prosecuted before the UN court for his role in the 44month siege of the Bosnian capital Sarajevo between May 1992 and November 1995 in which 10,000 people died under terrifying sniper and artillery fire. Like Mladic, he faces charges for his role in taking hostage UN observers and peacekeepers to use them as human shields during a NATO bombing campaign against Bosnian Serb targets in May and June 1995.

Following 13 years on the run after being indicted by the ICTY in 1995, Karadzic, a trained pyschiatrist, was finally arrested on a Belgrade bus in 2008 where he practiced as a doctor of alternative medicine. “ The reality is that Karadzic and Mladic 15 years ago played a very important role and nobody wanted to arrest them,” the IC T Y’s chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz said, adding today “many people in Serbia still consider them heroes and not war criminals.”

Karadzic’s trial kicked off in October 2009 and prosecutors built their case against him between April 2010 and May this year. He is given to ideological grandstanding when testifying in court.

Judges dropped one genocide count against him in June, saying there was not enough evidence to substantiate its definition relating to killings in Bosnian towns by Bosnian Serb forces between March to December 1992. Genocide is the

Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic gravest crime in international humanitarian law-and the hardest to prove. Tuesday’s hearing will start with a four-hour opening statement

by Karadzic, followed by the testimony of Russian military colonel Andrei Demurenko, who the UN’s chief-of-staff from Januar y to December 1995 in Sarajevo.

Karadzic said he planned to call 300 witnesses to testify in the 300 hours allotted to him by the Hague-based court. Greece’s President Carolos Papoulias, who was the country’s foreign minister during the Bosnian war, is also on the witness list.

Karadzic has said Papoulias’ testimony could prove his innocence for the infamous shelling of Sarajevo’s Markale market on February 5, 1994 in which 67 people died. His defense opens on the same day as the start of the trial of Croatian Serb rebel leader Goran Hadzic, the ICTY’s last suspect.—AFP

LONDON: The BBC is struggling to contain a crisis sparked by allegations of serial sexual abuse against the late Jimmy Savile, a longtime children’s television host. Dozens of women have come forward to say that Savile, who died in October 2011 aged 84, sexually assaulted them when they were as young as 13.

London’s Metropolitan Police, which is leading a national investigation, says it has identified 40 potential victims.

The publicly funded national broadcaster is facing questions about its failure to stop Savile’s predatory behavior, which was an open secret in showbiz circles during his heyday several decades ago. BBC Director-General George Entwistle announced late Friday that the broadcaster would hold an inquiry into the “culture and practices of the BBC during the years Jimmy Savile worked here.”

“It will examine whether that culture and those practices allowed him or others to carry out the sexual abuse of children,” said Entwistle, promising a “forensic but also soul-searching examination.”

Some assaults are alleged to have taken place on BBC premises, others at hospitals and schools Savile visited as part of his charity fundraising. Entwistle said he offered a “profound and heartfelt apology on behalf of the BBC to every victim.”

“As the director-general of the BBC I have made clear my revulsion at the thought that these criminal assaults were carried out by someone employed by the BBC and that some may have happened on BBC premises as well as, we now discover, in hospitals and other institutions across the UK,” he told reporters.

Entwistle - who has been in his job for less than a month - said the BBC would also investigate why a report on Savile by its “Newsnight” program was dropped at the last minute in December for what the broadcaster called “editorial reasons.” The allegations against Savile were eventually aired in a documentary broadcast ear-

LONDON: File photo shows British disc jockey and BBC TV presenter Jimmy Savile at Madame Tussauds museum in London. — AP lier this month on the rival ITV channel.

The British government said it would hold its own investigation into how Savile was appointed to lead a taskforce overseeing management restructuring at Broadmoor psychiatric hospital in the 1980s. Former patients at the hospital have claimed Savile abused them. “In hindsight he should very obviously not have been appointed,” the Department of Health said in a statement.

Savile, known for his platinum hair, garish tracksuits, chunky gold jewelry and ever-present cigars, was a fixture on British TV between the 1960s and the 1990s as host of music show “Top of the Pops” and children’s program “Jim’ll Fix It.” He was knighted by both Queen Elizabeth II and the Vatican for his charity work, but his reputation has been in freefall since the abuse allegations were made public. Last week his family removed the headstone from his grave in Scarborough, northeastern England, and destroyed it, “out of respect for public opinion.” The granite tombstone bore the words “It was good while it lasted.”—AP

Security Council calls for Mali military plan UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council has approved a resolution that presses West African nations to speed up preparations for an international military intervention aimed at reconquering northern Mali. The text unanimously approved by the council also urges authorities in Bamako and representatives of “Malian rebel groups” controlling the north to “engage, as soon as possible, in a credible negotiation process.” The council members warned that the process should be undertaken with a view toward “a sustainable political solution, mindful of the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Mali.”

In March, military putschists seized power in the capital Bamako, ousting President Amadou Toumani Toure, only to see the north and east fall to Tuareg rebels and militias linked to Al-Qaeda.

“There is a feeling that it is a dire situation in northern Mali and we need prompt action,” said Guatemala’s envoy to the United Nations, Gert Rosenthal, who holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month. “But it is a very complex operation... this will be the first step towards something more robust, I hope.” The council asked UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon to work with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union in order to submit to the council within 45 days “detailed and actionable recommendations” in preparation for the deployment of an international military force in Mali. A first draft of the resolution called for a 30-day timetable, but 45 days was later deemed to be more realistic. The plan

should include “means and modalities of the envisaged deployment, in particular the concept of operations,” personnel needed and a cost estimate, said the text, which was mainly drafted by France. The UN is to provide “military and security planners” to ECOWAS and the African Union to assist with the preparations, the resolution said. After details for military intervention are submitted, the 15member council would still have to pass a second resolution to give the green light to the deployment. That is not expected to happen before the end of the year. French President Francois Hollande stressed the resolution was not just about facilitating a military intervention, but had a political component as well, with armed groups urged to halt attacks and join reconciliation efforts. “The international community as a whole will stand side-by-side with Mali in this effort” to reconquer the north, Hollande said in a statement issued while the French leader was in Senegal. “It is now up to the Africans, through the work of ECOWAS and the African Union, to finalize their response to the Malian government’s call for help.” The US State Department welcomed the adoption of the resolution, with spokeswoman Victoria Nuland calling it a “comprehensive approach to the overlapping governance, security and humanitarian crises affecting Mali.” In the resolution, the council stated its “readiness’ to respond to Mali’s requests, while calling for “coordinated assistance, expertise, training and capacitybuilding support” to Mali’s armed forces. The country’s military has been devastated by the coup and the

quick takeover of the north. The European Union hopes to quickly dispatch 150 military trainers to Mali.

The issue will be discussed at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday.

One diplomat said the goal now is to “maintain momentum and mobilize the international community.” For some six months now, the Security Council has called in vain for details on the intervention, including its objectives and logistical needs. Only a few of Mali’s neighbors have offered firm commitments to participate in such a force, which could eventually have a total of 3,000 personnel. The council’s resolution also condemns human rights abuses committed in the north and “calls upon Malian rebel groups to cut off all ties to terrorist organizations,” especially AlQaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

It urges the transitional authorities in Bamako to speed up efforts to restore “constitutional order.”

“Strengthening democratic institutions must be at the heart of combating extremism and political upheaval,” said Nuland, the State Department spokeswoman. A meeting is set for October 19 in Bamako with representatives from ECOWAS, the AU, the EU and the UN in an attempt to develop a “coherent strategy,” a diplomat said.

France has promised logistical help for the operation. Mali’s UN envoy Oumar Daou promised the council Bamako’s full cooperation and underlined the importance and urgency of the need for a military intervention.

Ivory Coast’s UN ambassador, Youssoufou Bamba, said ECOWAS welcomed the “timely” resolution as a precursor to “concrete action.”— AFP

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Anti-Taleban leader prefers to do it alone PULI ALAM: He took up arms after the Taleban killed his mother in a hail of bullets and inspired a local uprising that ousted the insurgents from his area. But Sayed Farhad Akbari, a 32year-old construction company director, says he has refused to be co-opted into a government-sponsored police program, branding the authorities corrupt and ineffectual. The interior ministry has arranged funding for 300 new Afghan Local Police (ALP) in Logar province, just south of Kabul and considered key to protecting the capital.

And according to both Akbari and a senior provincial police commander, he and his followers have been invited to join up as the government tries to capitalize on the uprising and fill a gaping hole in security. The ALP is a branch of the Afghan National Police, with members intended to act as local security guards. However, the program has proved controversial with critics including Human Rights Watch likening the force to a militia amid accusations of serious rights abuses and fears over the proliferation of armed groups.

Speaking by telephone Akbari, who has two wives and 10 children, said he fought back after a series of Taleban atrocities.

They killed seven schoolgirls from his village and closed their school, as well as five members of the same family whose son worked for the government and a local mullah who had called on the insurgents to stop the violence. “They also killed my mother

who was travelling from Kabul to Logar with my brother and four other people. They opened fire at their car.

All the others were wounded but my mother died,” Akbari, from Kulangar district in central Logar said. “After that incident I was fed up and angry. I wanted to leave the country but I changed my mind. I thought I should stay and help save my village from the Taleban.” What started as a gathering at a mosque grew until he had the support of 50 villages and 200 armed men, with 2,000 more waiting to join once weapons are available, he said.

He claims to have spent $160,000 of his own money to buy guns, cars and motorcycles, and local people have provided fuel, food and drink. The uprising in Logar followed similar antiTaleban movements in Ghazni and Laghman provinces, but those came amid fears local militia leaders were trying to reassert their authority ahead of the 2014 withdrawal of NATO troops. Akbari said his group had killed 23 Taleban in three clashes since the uprising started in August, but were simply villagers fighting through necessity. Colonel Mohammad Tahir, a senior police officer in provincial capital Puli Alam, said the same people who joined the uprising were now set to join the ALP programme.

“They want to continue their mission but they want help from the government,” he said, adding that the Afghan army and police had already been providing them with ammuni-

Lithuania ‘anti-pedophile’ party poised for parliamentary debut VILNIUS: As Lithuania’s mainstream politicians lock horns ahead of today’s general election, a swathe of smaller parties aim to make waves, few more so than a new anti-corruption movement spun from a scandal over an alleged cover-up of pedophilia. While the main event in the Baltic state’s vote looks likely to be the ruling centre-right’s defeat by the left-wing opposition, the Way of Courage party seems set to make its parliamentary debut.

Polls it could muster 6.5 percent of the vote, enough for a handful of seats in the European Union nation’s 141-member parliament. “Brazen corruption and injustice in this country drove me to found this party,” said its creator, former judge Neringa Venckiene. The party’s name in Lithuanian, “Drasos Kelias”, is a nod to her brother Drasius Kedys. Kedys-whose first name means “the brave”-was found dead in 2010 after going missing following his alleged involvement in the 2009 fatal street shooting of another judge and Kedys’ sister-in-law.

Kedys claimed that justice officials had covered up a paedophile ring abusing his daughter with the connivance of his estranged wife. He was ruled to have died of natural causes. But Venckiene says she believes he was killed. After Kedys’ death, Venckiene won initial custody of her niece, who is now seven years old. A court order returning the youngster to her mother sparked public anger, with hundreds of people forming a human wall at Venckiene’s home, delaying officials’ attempts to remove the girl.

The murky case-still working its way through the court system-became a cause celebre in Lithuania and that has empowered the Way of Courage. “I’m going to vote for this party. I see injustice every day. I’m a civil servant and I can see the lack of accountability of my bosses and their irresponsibility,” Laisvydas Liaudauskas, 25, told AFP at a rally in a Vilnius theatre. Sixtysomething university technician Petras Gudmanas said he

was convinced it was time for a shakeup.

“Our nation is a mess. There’s nothing but thieves at the top. You only have to look, just recently politicians were caught with their hands in the cash-till,” he whispered as party officials addressed

VILNIUS: Children stand in front of posters of candidates for the 2012 Lithuanian Parliamentary elections in Vilnius. — AFP the crowd from the stage Romas Adomavicius, deputy mayor of Vilnius and a member of the opinion-poll leading Social Democrats, is currently under investigation in a graft case.

The Way of Courage is fielding a string of high-profile candidates including poet and Soviet-era dissident Algirdas Patackas, former foreign minister Povilas Gilys and rally driver Stasys Brunzda. For Aine Ramonaite, a professor at the Institute of Political Science in Vilnius, the Way of Courage is more than a singleissue party. — AFP

Court to decide on trial for cruise ship disaster ROME: An Italian court will begin hearings tomorrow to determine who could stand trial for a cruise ship disaster that left 32 people dead, amid accusations of safety breaches and fatal delays.

Hundreds of lawyers, scientific experts and survivors from the Costa Concordia tragedy in January are expected to attend the hearing in the Tuscan city of Grosseto, not far from where the giant liner lies beached. The ship’s captain Francesco Schettino, five crew members and three managers from ship owner Costa Crociere are under investigation.

The court will review expert findings into the crash before ruling on who, if anyone, should stand trial.

Schettino, who was described by Italian media as “Italy’s most hated man” in the wake of the January 13 shipwreck, is accused of delaying the evacuation and then abandoning ship before all the 4,229 people on board had been rescued. He was placed under house arrest on the Amalfi coast after the crash, but was released on probation in July and has not been formally charged. The captain could face a multiple manslaughter charge for performing a risky “salute” maneuver close to Giglio Island where the ship hit rocks and failing to inform the authorities, causing a fatal delay in the ship’s evacuation.

The other crew members who could face trial are the ship’s second-in-command, three officers who were on the bridge when the crash happened, and a safety official who told the coastguard the ship had merely suffered a blackout.

Experts will present their analysis of data from the ship’s “black box” and other equipment on board, followed by statements from forensic police. Some of the 126 lawyers representing survivors may also take the stand in the closed-door hearing, which is expected to last several days. Schettino, one of the officers and all three Costa executives are likely to be present, according to Italian media reports.

Schettino has insisted it was his skilled maneuvering that stopped the ship from hitting the rocks head on. He also said a “divine hand” had guided him. ‘Madonna, what have I done?’-The widely mocked captain also denies abandoning ship, insisting that he did not leave it voluntarily but tripped and fell into a life boat.

“Madonna, what have I done?”, he was heard to exclaim in leaked audio recordings from the ship’s bridge just seconds after the crash at 9:45 pm. In a panicked call to another officer he asked, “Are we really going down?”, but minutes later gave the order to tell passengers there had been a blackout. — AFP

tion. But Akbari said his group had no desire to join, dismissing the ALP as “not very effective” and claiming they complained of not being paid for several months.

“Yes, the government has asked us to join the ALP but we will not. The government is corrupt, they keep freeing the Taleban they arrest. The government has lost its strength and effectiveness,” he said. With the departure of about 30,000 US surge troops in October, the NATO footprint in Afghanistan is shrinking.

Lieutenant Colonel James Wright, commander of 1st Squadron (Airborne) 91st Cavalry Regiment, the US force in Logar, said local police were a necessity. “Frankly they’re at the point now where they flat out have to do it. They’ve come to their senses that something is better than nothing,” he said, adding that the Kolangar uprising and the ALP program were at least seen as “mutually supportive”.

“They would either be recruits or help augment what’s going on with it,” he said. But interior ministry spokesman Sediq Seddiqi said: “We have no plans to incorporate the uprisings into the ALP. They are by the people and people are leading it.”

NATO is trying to build trust in the government through adviser programs that target policing and the court system, but when it comes to the release of suspected insurgents Akbari has a point. Of about 70 people detained by NATO and handed over to

LOGAR PROVINCE: Afghan anti-Taleban armed men under the command of Sayed Farhad Akbari hold their weapons in Kalangar district, Logar province yesterday. — AFP Afghan investigators in the province a position of leadership saying, ‘No, over the past six months, only six cases this detainee is a good person.’”Having have gone forward to trial, said Navy lost faith in the government, Akbari Lieutenant Anthony Sham, part of a prefers to tackle the Taleban himself, two-man rule of law team based near and he said he had heard of three othPuli Alam. There have been no convic- er areas of Logar where people were tions. “There’s a lot of things we see in preparing to rise up. “ We are not the Afghan system that we deem as against Islam, we are against those corrupt and sometimes they deem as who misuse Islam for their own benefit and terrorise people,” he said. “The cultural,” said Sham.

“One of the big things we see in area is now cleared. We are also helpLogar is not necessarily payment to ing young boys who study and get get somebody out of jail, but people brainwashed in Taleban madrassas to vouching for each other, somebody in come and study in our schools.”— AFP

Suicide bomber kills 17 in NW Pakistan Police make arrests in shooting of girl PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber yesterday blew up a car at a crowded market in a northwestern Pakistani tribal town, killing at least 17 people and wounding 30 others, officials said.

The blast ripped through the main market in Darra Adam Khel near to a local anti-insurgent peace committee office, which officials said was the target of the attack. “The death toll has risen to 16 and 30 others were wounded,” local government official Fakhar-ud-Din said.

He said it was not immediately clear how many peace committee members were killed or wounded because the bombing occurred in a crowded street and many shoppers were victims. Information minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Mian Iftikhar Hussain said: “It was a suicide attack and the target was the local peace committee.” Two other officials confirmed the bombing and the death toll and said some of the wounded were shifted to other cities for treatment as local health facilities were not sufficient. Nobody immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, the officials said.

The peace committee comprised a breakaway group of former militants who ditched their Taleban colleagues and formed a militia supporting local elders and government efforts against militancy, a local intelligence official said. Semi-autonomous Darra Adam Khel lies between the northwestern towns of Peshawar and Kohat and has experienced several suicide attacks and bombings blamed on Taleban militants. Taleban on Tuesday shot schoolgirl rights activist Malala Yousafzai, 14, in the head as she boarded a school bus in the former Taleban stronghold of Swat. Authorities offered a reward of more than $100,000 for the capture of her attackers.

SHOOTING OF GIRL In another development, Pakistani police have arrested a number of suspects in the case of a 14-year-old girl shot and wounded by the Taleban for promoting education for girls and criticizing the fundamentalist Islamic movement, officials said. The shooting of Malala Yousufzai along with two classmates while they were on their way home from school Tuesday horrified people in Pakistan and internationally. It has been followed by an outpouring of support for a girl who earned the enmity of the Taleban for publicizing their acts and speaking about the importance of education for girls. The Taleban have claimed responsibili-

ty for the shooting, saying that the girl was promoting “Western thinking.” Late on Thursday, a spokesman for one of the group’s branches in the country’s north said the top leadership of the Taleban’s Swat Valley chapter decided two months ago to kill Yousufzai in a carefully planned attack after her family ignored repeated warnings. Police have been questioning people in the town of Mingora, in the Swat

Fazlullah and his deputies selected three attackers, including two trained sharpshooters, who carefully studied the girl’s route home from school. Even before the Taleban took over the Swat Valley, Fazlullah’s radio broadcasts spread fear among residents in the area. The group first started to exert its influence in 2007 and quickly extended its reach to much of the valley by the next year. They set about impos-

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA: A Pakistani youth sits amid the rubble of offices destroyed in a car bomb explosion in the Pakistani town of Darra Adam Khel in the troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan yesterday. — AP Valley, where the shooting took place. Mingora police chief Afzal Khan Afridi said arrests had been made, but he declined to give any details about the number of people detained or what role they’re suspected of having in the shooting. He said he did not want to endanger the ongoing investigation. Interior Minister Rehman Malik told reporters Friday that the two gunmen who staged the attack were not among those arrested, but he said investigators had identified the masterminds of the shooting and efforts were under way to capture all those involved.

The Taleban spokesman, Sirajuddin Ahmad, said Yousufzai’s family had been warned three times - the most recent warning coming last week - before the decision was made to kill her.

Ahmad said local Taleban leader Maulana

ing their will on residents by forcing men to grow beards, preventing women from going to the market and blowing up many schools the majority for girls.

Malala wrote about these practices in a journal for the BBC under a pseudonym when she was just 11. After the Taleban were pushed out of the valley in 2009 by the Pakistani military, she became even more outspoken in advocating for girls’ education. She appeared frequently in the media and was given one of the country’s highest honors for civilians for her bravery. Fazlullah, along with much of the Swat Taleban’s top leadership, escaped the offensive and is believed to be operating from a base in eastern Afghanistan and sending fighters back across the border to attack northwest Pakistan. — Agencies

Jewish group urges US to shun Egypt JERUSALEM: An Israeli lawmaker expressed dismay yesterday over anti-Semitic remarks attributed to the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s spiritual guide as activists called on Washington to cut contacts with Egypt over the issue. Mohammed Badie said during his weekly message that Jews were spreading “corruption,” had slaughtered Muslims and desecrated holy sites. He further called on Muslims to fight Israel, saying Zionists only understood force.

Israel has increasingly become concerned over its relations with Egypt as the formerly repressed Muslim Brotherhood has risen to power with the election of an Islamist president following the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. The jitters come despite a pledge by

newly elected President Mohammed Morsi that Egypt will abide by a 1979 peace accord with Israel.

Muslim Brotherhood members frequently make statements against Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem, accusing Jews of trying to smother the city’s Islamic identity and calling on Muslims to rise up and protect the city and its holy shrines. But Badie’s statement was the first time the group’s supreme leader has made such strong statements since Morsi’s election. Morsi has avoided speaking of Israel in public, making only pledges to respect Egypt’s international agreements.

Badie referred to longstanding Muslim calls to “defend” Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, a

holy site for both Muslims and Jews. Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven from there, while Jews call the compound the Temple Mount because of the biblical Jewish temples that stood there.

“It is time for the Muslim (nation) to unite for the sake of Jerusalem and Palestine after the Jews have increased the corruption in the world, and to shed the blood of (Muslims),” Badie said in comments published on the group’s website and emailed to reporters on Thursday.

“Muslims must realize that restoring the sanctuaries and protecting honor and blood from the hands of Jews will not happen through the parlors of the United Nations, or through negotiations.

The Zionists only know the way of force,” he added. Israeli lawmaker Danny Danon called on the US and the European Union “not to bury their heads in the sand and ignore the worrying reality.” “Incitement and anti-Semitism in Egypt must stop before the US sends (Egypt) hundreds of millions of dollars,” he said in a telephone interview. “The direction of the new Egyptian government is very worrying and we are following with great concern what is being said and done and what is not being done there against extremists.” The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which monitors anti-Semitic incidents worldwide, also said the US could not pretend to conduct “business as usual” when the Brotherhood made such statements. — AP

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Forgotten bunker offers glimpse of wartime Hanoi HANOI: From Hollywood starlets to scruffy trade union delegations, an unassuming reinforced concrete bunker under a central Hanoi hotel sheltered communist Vietnam’s most important wartime guests.

Sealed off and forgotten after hostilities ended in 1975, the dank subterranean passages were unearthed during recent renovations at the hotel, now favored by foreign tourists and wealthy Vietnamese. “I felt a little bit like Indiana Jones discovering the Temple of Doom or something,” said Kai Speth, general manager of the Metropole Hotel, describing when he first entered the seven-room bunker, which was knee-deep in water.

There were always rumors that the bunker-no more than 20

square meters in size-was under the swimming pool bar, he said.

“So I told the team when we were rebuilding the foundations of the bar: ‘Let’s dig a little deeper’.” The bunker was built in 1968 when the hotel, then known as the Thong Nhat, was a drab, government-run establishment used by the communist authorities to house visiting delegations, including a string of prominent American anti-war activists.

Actress Jane Fonda and folk singer Joan Baez both used the shelter, with Baez recording a song in it during the Christmas bombings in December 1972, when the US dropped some 20,000 tones of ordnance in 11 days. More than 1,600 civilians died in the attack, and Baez’s 21minute recording “Where Are

HANOI: Foreign tourists walk past old style Vietnamese artillery batteries dating from the 17-18th centuries on display at Hanoi’s Army Museum. — AFP

You Now, My Son?”, made in the concrete passages, captures some of the sounds of wartime Hanoi. “You can hear the bombs falling. You can hear the antiair(craft) machine guns going off that were mounted on the Opera House” near the hotel, Speth said. Fonda arrived after the Christmas Bombings, her then interpreter Tran Minh Quoc told AFP, but she was caught in several raids during her controversial tour of the country, which earned her the nickname “Hanoi Jane” back in the States.

“We could hear the bombing from afar and we together went down to the bunker.... The American air force never hit the hotel. (Fonda) was very calm....

She didn’t show any fear,” he said. War relics abound for those who look-The bunker at the Metropole, which will be preserved in its original state and is open for tours for guests, is one of thousands of similar bomb shelters dug across Hanoi during the decades-long conflict. Most have since been filled in, but one other famous site remainsbehind the walls of Thang Long Citadel lies a bunker where former key leaders General Vo Nguyen Giap and president Ho Chi Minh once sheltered from bomb attacks.

While most of Vietnam’s war tourism industry is concentrated in the south visitors to Ho Chi Minh City can visit the famous war museum and Cu Chi tunnels-signs of Hanoi’s wartime legacy abound if you know

Teen who posted video on bullying found dead TORONTO: Canada was in uproar Friday over a 15-year-old schoolgirl who was found dead, an apparent suicide, five weeks after she uploaded a video to YouTube describing years of bullying that drove her to drugs and alcohol. Coroner Barb McLintock said that preliminary indications suggest the British Columbia girl, Amanda Todd, killed herself. Her school district’s spokeswoman, Cheryl Quinton, confirmed the girl in the video was her. In the 9-minute video posted on Sept. 7, the 10th-grader and cheerleader didn’t speak but told her story in haunting detail in a series of handwritten notes that she held up to the camera.

She said she was lured by a stranger to expose her breasts on a webcam and the picture ended up on a Facebook page made by the stranger, to which her friends were added. She wrote of being plunged into anxiety, depression, drugs and alcohol. She said she changed schools but an encounter with another girl’s boyfriend started the bullying again, which this time escalated into a physical attack in which she said she was beaten.

When she got home, she wrote, she drank bleach. “It killed me inside and I thought I actually was going to die.”

She was rushed to a hospital to flush out the bleach. More anxiety, cutting and overdosing followed, her struggles with anxiety and cutting herself got worse, and despite counseling and antidepressants, she was rushed to hospital again after an overdose. The last cards said simply: “I have nobody. I need someone. My name is Amanda Todd.” Beneath the video, Todd posted a note saying she produced it not for attention, but “to be an inspiration and to show that I can be strong.” “Everyone’s future will be bright

one day, you just gotta pull through. I’m still here, aren’t I?” Coroner McClintock said she died in her home Wednesday. Her office released no other details. Her family could not be reached by phone. The Coquitlam Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the family is not prepared to speak publicly and have asked that their privacy be respected. The girl’s death was headline news nationally Friday, with (hash)RIPAmanda trending across Twitter and the Amanda Michelle Todd memorial Facebook page garnering more than 30,000 “likes.” Cyberbullying experts and criminologists suggested laws be strengthened to allow police to trace cyber bullies through the Internet.

British Premier Christy Clark posted a video on YouTube deploring the tragedy.

Bullying “isn’t a rite of passage,” she said.

“Bullying has to stop.” The British Columbia gym where Amanda was a cheerleader posted a statement on its Facebook page.

“I ask that we all watch her video and share her story so that her loss is not in vain,” the statement read. “Allow this to be her legacy. Allow us to all look around and find the next Amanda before another precious spunky teenager is lost.” Shock, sadness and recriminations poured out on a Facebook page devoted to her, with one signatory accusing others of having participated in the bullying. Irena Pochop, communications manager for the Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows school district east of Vancouver, confirmed Amanda was enrolled in the district and had changed schools this year.

She would not address the girl’s specific case but said the district had a detailed system in place to protect victims. — AP

Biden blasts Ryan over abortion, war LA CROSSE: Fresh from an aggressive debate per formance against Republican congressman Paul Ryan, Vice President Joe Biden traveled to his rival’s home state on Friday and blasted him for his positions on the war in Afghanistan and abortion. Biden’s trip to Wisconsin, a pivotal state where President Barack Obama is currently leading, was a not-so-subtle jab at the man who as Mitt Romney’s running mate aims to replace Biden after the Nov 6 election.

The two men sparred over a host of foreign policy and domestic issues during a testy debate in Kentucky on Thursday night. Biden’s fiery performance helped the Democratic ticket regain its footing after Obama’s lackluster encounter with Romney during their first debate last week. Biden knocked Ryan for his position on abortion rights, a longtime flashpoint in US politics.

“If anyone had a doubt about what’s at stake in this election when it comes to women’s rights and the Supreme Court, I’m sure they were settled last night,” Biden, accompanied by wife Jill, told a crowd estimated to be more than 2,000. “Congressman Ryan made ver y clear that he and Governor

Romney are prepared to impose their private views on everyone else. It was made clear last night that they don’t believe in protecting a woman’s access to healthcare.” During the debate, Ryan and Biden were asked how their Roman Catholic faith affected their position on abortion. Biden believes abortion should be legal, while Ryan opposes it except in cases of rape, incest or a threat to the mother’s life.

Biden also hammered Ryan over his and Romney’s position on Afghanistan.

The Obama administration plans to remove all US troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014. Romney and Ryan argue that setting a firm deadline emboldened the Taliban forces in Afghanistan fighting US troops. “I made it absolutely clear on behalf of the president and I that we are leaving Afghanistan in 2014, period. There are no ifs, ands or buts,” Biden said.

“Congressman Ryan, he made it very clear that Governor Romney has a very different view. Although he says he thinks we should get out in 2014, although he says that makes sense, he says we shouldn’t have announced that ... and when asked to guarantee you’d get out, he said it depends,” Biden added. — Reuters

where to look. A small plaque next to Hanoi’s Truc Bach Lake marks the spot where US Senator John McCain was shot down as a navy pilot and dragged ashore to become a prisoner of war-one of 10 American planes to be downed by anti-aircraft gunners on just one day in 1967. Tourists can also visit the so-called “Hanoi Hilton”, where American POWs like McCain were held. While much of the Hoa Lo Prison was demolished, sections of it, including the gatehouse, remain open as a museum.

Not all Hanoi’s war relics are memorials. On the shore of the city’s West Lake, one family has transformed a former French armaments store into a popular cafe. “This cafe has a special style because of historic values. When people come here, they are more curious about history,” owner Vu Thi Huong said. In other parts of the city, the wartime history has been absorbed into the scenery. A small shrine on Yen Ninh-Hang Bun street marks the spot where French soldiers opened fire on a market killing dozens of civilians in an incident that is believed to have triggered the first Indochina War in 1946.

The name of the shrine means “deep hatred” in Vietnamese and was a popular word used during the war. But today this shrine is famous for another reason-delicious noodles. “People here call it ‘Hatred shrine’ noodle stall,” owner Do Thi Yen said. “Sometime we

need to be grateful to the dead.

They brought customers to me so I’m grateful to them,” Yen added. A meal down memory lane-Other business owners are hoping to cash in on wartime

the official Vietnam News Agency said. For Bob Devereaux, an Australian diplomat stationed in Hanoi in 1975, wartime relics are important to help the younger generation-some 60

HANOI: A foreign tourist takes pictures among US-made and Soviet-made aircraft used during the Vietnam War and now on display at Hanoi’s Army Museum. — AFP nostalgia-a new themed restaurant in Hanoi, called the “Staterun Food Shop number 37”, takes customers back to the days of food rationing.

For around $25, you can get an authentic 1970s-style meal for six, served to you by staff wearing uniforms from the actual state-run shops of the period, in a restaurant packed with warera memorabilia. “A good place for the old to remember the difficult era and (for) the youth to understand a historic periodthough the dishes are not all delicious,” a September review in

percent of Vietnam’s population is under 35 — come to terms with the past. Devereaux was put up at the Thong Nhat hotel, where the Australian embassy was located at the time, and he used the underground bunker as storage-even carving his name into wet cement, where it remains to this day. “If you find any wine bottles, they’re mine,” he said laughing, as he showed AFP round the bunker earlier this year after it was reopened, adding that he was pleased the hotel was preserving the space in its original state. — AFP

US teacher had murder directions on computer Passenger nabbed with bulletproof vest, weapons LOS ANGELES: A teacher arrested at Los Angeles International Airport wearing a bulletproof vest and with checked bags containing knives, body bags, a smoke grenade and other weapons also had files on his computer detailing how to kidnap and kill people, federal authorities disclosed yesterday. In addition, Yongda Huang Harris had items on his computer revealing he has a “strong interest” in sexual violence against girls, including a video titled “Schoolgirls in Cement,” Assistant US Attorney Melissa Mills said. One publication was entitled “Man Trapping” and showed how to hunt and trap humans, she said. He also had a document with schedules for schools in Japan showing when students arrived and left.

The prosecutor detailed the discoveries during a court appearance by Harris, 28, a Boston University graduate who had been working in Japan as a junior high school teacher. The bespectacled Harris was shackled in handcuffs and wore a white prisonissued jumpsuit, along with a blue surgical mask over his mouth due to a throat infection.

Before the detention hearing, he crossed and rubbed his arms, appearing to be cold. He often turned and spoke with his attorney Steven Seiden. US Magistrate Judge Paul Abrams declared Harris to be a flight risk and ordered him held without bond until he stands trial.

Harris is charged with one count of transporting hazardous materials, for the grenade, and could face up to five years in prison if convicted. He did not enter a plea. Seiden said the weapons Harris was carrying were meant for protection and necessary because Harris was once attacked on the streets of Boston.

“He may have interests that are not of the norm, but that doesn’t mean he’s carrying out any type of harm to anyone,” said Seiden, who described his client as shy and timid. Seiden also said Harris didn’t have any previous psychological issues. Harris was arrested on Oct 5 during a stopover in Los Angeles on his trip from Japan to Boston. He was wearing the bulletproof vest under a trench coat along

with fire-resistant pants and kneepads.

His attire attracted the attention of law enforcement, and when his luggage was checked the weapons cache was found, authorities said. The search of his checked luggage uncovered numerous suspicious items, including a hatchet, knives, collapsible baton, biohazard suit, billy clubs, handcuffs, leg irons and a device to repel dogs, authorities said. The items “looked like a kidnap kit,” prosecutor Mills said. Seiden, who also represents the man believed to be behind an antiMuslim film that roiled the Middle East, said the clothing worn by Harris when he was arrested is common in Asian countries and described the outfit as resembling martial arts attire. He disputed the government’s con-

tention that body bags were found inside his client’s luggage. Harris had a large duffel bag for moving items, the lawyer said. Harris is a US citizen whose permanent residence is in Boston and was traveling there because his stepfather recently died, Seiden said. His flight originated in Japan and he got off in South Korea, where security officials screened Harris and his carry-on luggage. The smoke grenade made it onto the plane in his checked luggage, authorities said. The grenade was Xrayed in Los Angeles and police determined the device fell into a category that is prohibited on passenger aircraft. The knives and items are permissible in checked bags, while the vest and pants are not listed among items prohibited in aircraft cabins. — AP

LOS ANGELES: This image provided by the Los Angeles Police Department shows officials seizing material from the luggage of Yongda Huang Harris after he attempted to enter the United States at Los Angeles International Airport. — AP

Soldiers claim illness after guarding KBR PORTLAND: A war contractor knew a critical southern Iraq oilfield plant was riddled with a wellknown toxin but ignored the risk to soldiers while hurrying the project along, firing a whistleblower and covering up the presence of the chemical when faced with exposure, the soldiers’ attorney said in opening arguments Wednesday in a federal civil suit.

An attorney for the contractor, Kellogg, Brown and Root, fired back in his opening salvo of a trial expected to last weeks that the soldiers’ injuries weren’t a result of their exposure to the toxin, called sodium dichromate.

Geoffrey L Harrison argued that the company had no knowledge of the chemical’s presence at the plant and when they found it, they promptly and repeatedly warned the military of the danger. A jury of six men and six women will decide whether the company is culpable

for 12 Oregon National Guardsmen’s exposure to the toxin, a known carcinogen, and whether that exposure led to their ongoing respiratory illnesses. The soldiers will also try to show that the fear of future illnesses is causing them to suffer emotional distress. The irony, said the soldiers’ attorney, Mike Doyle, “is that every single one of these men had a chemical hazard suit they would have put on instantly if they had known.” KBR tried to warn the US Army about the dangers of sodium dichromate, Harrison said, but didn’t go to the soldiers themselves because that wasn’t the proper channel of communication. “That was appropriate,” Harrison said.

“That was not concealment.” The suit dates to prewar Iraq, when the US Army feared then-Iraqi president Saddam Hussein would react to an invasion by setting his own oil fields ablaze, as he had done in Kuwait after the Gulf War. Seeking

to head off Hussein, in late 2002 the army contracted KBR and tasked them with assessing and repairing Iraqi oilfield installations.

One of the most central - and critical to a continued supply of oil from the Gulf - was called Qarmat Ali. Qarmat Ali operated as a water treatment plant, injecting heavier, treated water into the ground to force oil to rise through wells to the surface.

One of the chemicals Iraqi workers had been using was sodium dichromate, a substance long restricted in the US over environmental and health concerns. What the Guardsmen found in late March or early April 2003 was a run-down plant, Harrison said, looted and stripped of copper wire. The ground, the soldiers allege, was contaminated with sodium dichromate. When they asked about the risks, the soldiers contend they were rebuffed or pla-

cated, and safety equipment wasn’t ordered until they had been on site for months.

The soldiers returned to the US suffering from myriad respiratory problems, migraines and lung issues. They sued KBR in June 2009.

The Oregon soldiers were joined

by Guardsmen from Indiana and West Virginia, some of whom are also involved in suits against KBR. Harrison pointed to a US Army medical evaluation of the soldiers from October 2003 that found that the soldiers’ medical issues were likely a result of the conditions dry desert air, other chemicals - or preexisting conditions, along with consumption of protein-heavy supplements and the presence of sodium dichromate. “At best, there’s some possibility that some of their on-site symptoms could be related (to sodium dichromate exposure), but most likely, were not,” Harrison said. — AP

14

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

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Issues

US seeks all-round solution to end Mali instability

By Jo Biddle s the UN Security Council paved the way for military intervention against Islamic militants in Mali, the United States is pushing for a broader solution to the multi-headed crisis facing the nation. The council approved a resolution on Friday that gives West African nations 45 days to put forward a plan for bringing together an international force to flush out the militants in the north. But experts and analysts warned that boots on the ground will not resolve all the challenges facing the west African nation. “We want to see the territorial integrity of Mali fully restored. We want to see democracy, stability and development fully restored,” the top US diplomat for Africa, Johnnie Carson, told AFP in an exclusive interview.

He stressed however that the west African nation is facing “four separate, but over-arching, problems. Which makes it one of the most complex and difficult situations in Africa today facing resolution.” Carson highlighted the lack of a democratic and credible government; the marginalization of the Tuareg people dating back to the early days of French colonial rule and the threat posed by Islamist militants. The area is also plagued by a food crisis caused by drought and political instability in the Sahel region, a vast semi-desert on the southern Sahara.

The US supports the initiative for an African-led force to oust Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) militants from northern Mali. The militants have attempted to impose a harsh version of Islamic sharia law, imposing punishments from amputations to summary executions.

On Friday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton again accused the militants of “seeking to exploit periods of instability” and “trying to expand their reach from a stronghold in northern Mali.”

But Carson stressed that, while a security response was needed in the north, all the issues facing Mali should be worked on in parallel. “They need to be looked at as a set of challenges that must be dealt with” together, he said, suggesting that recent success in finally restoring a government in Somalia after two decades of civil war could prove a model. “One should take a look at why it’s successful and see if it has applicability for what needs to be done,” the assistant secretary said. “I think it’s important that we take a comprehensive approach. “It does not mean that one of these issues should derail or slow down movement in the other areas... there are some areas that are going to move much faster and require much more energy, activity, resources.”

Washington is pushing the transitional government and interim president Dioncounda Traore to move towards restoring democracy - which would also mean the resumption of US funded programs slashed in the wake of the coup. “First and foremost, the political problems in Bamako need solving before you can even think about any kind of security operations directed against the North,” said Richard Downie, an expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The United States has said it will support a well-planned and well-resourced African-led intervention, and while it has not ruled out any direct US military intervention, analysts believe that is unlikely.

“Of course all contingencies are being considered, but I really don’t see the very strong likelihood of a US direct intervention,” Downie said. “The emphasis is very much on the traditional AFRICOM approach which is building up capacities of host nations in the region, maybe providing some background support and things like intelligence.

“You might see some drones involved in this area but more likely on sort of surveillance capacity.”

UN chief Ban and aid groups have warned a military operation needs careful planning, as pouring arms and weaponry into the region could worsen the plight of millions of people. “The crisis is multi-dimensional and there are many risks still associated to a possible deployment of a regional force in the north,” Gilles Yabi, West Africa Project Director for the International Crisis Group, told AFP. “It is not going to be a peacekeeping operation, but a military operation in a very difficult terrain targeting mobile groups.”

He also highlighted issues such as the collapse of state institutions, and the co-existence of many different communities. “It can’t be: ‘let’s just send in the military to the north and then everything will be OK’,” agreed Jon Temin, director of the Sudan and South Sudan program at the US Institute of Peace. “There are a lot of root causes as to why this rebellion happened in the north and why it was successful and until you really start to get at some of these root causes ... you are just treating it superficially.” — AFP

A

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Nobel may restore EU’s lost sense of purpose

By Paul Taylor inning the Nobel peace prize is a huge morale boost for an organisation that has only recently had a near-death experience and is still not entirely sure it is out of danger. By highlighting the European Union’s central achievement of securing peace on a warscarred continent, the Nobel judges may give the 27-nation bloc back a sense of purpose that its day-to-day practitioners often seem to have lost. The EU is still a magnet of hope and prosperity for emerging democracies in eastern Europe and the Balkans, but it is unloved by ordinary Europeans, whose sense of belonging remains national or local rather than European.

Its image among many of the 500 million EU citizens has been tarnished by the euro zone’s unfinished debt crisis, which has fuelled Eurosceptical populist parties of the far-right and hard left in many member countries. Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has called for EU leaders to hold a special summit to address “the backlash against European integration” and the rise of mutual suspicion and prejudice due to the handling of the crisis. The survival of the currency shared by 17 EU states Europe’s central economic project - has looked uncertain for the last two years.

Financial markets lost confidence in the debt of troubled peripheral countries and doubted the determination of the European authorities to hold the euro together.

That now seems assured after the European Central Bank vowed last month to buy unlimited quantities of short-term government bonds to defeat any attempt to bet on the breakup of the euro. But much of Europe faces a grinding recession and a roll-back of pensions, employment rights and welfare benefits that have long

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defined a generous European social model.

The Nobel citation acknowledged that the EU is going through grave economic difficulties and social unrest, but said: “The Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to focus on what it sees as the EU’s most important result: the successful struggle for peace and reconciliation and for democracy and human rights. “The stabilizing part played by the EU has helped to transform most of Europe from a continent of war to a continent of peace.”

The judges highlighted how the EU expanded to embrace new democracies in Greece, Spain and Portugal that had cast off dictatorships, and the former communist countries of central and eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall, entrenching pluralism, the rule of law and the market economy. European politicians rushed to congratulate themselves and take credit for the accomplishments of post-World War Two statesmen who overcame national divisions to forge a union first on coal and steel, then on free trade, subsidised agriculture and assistance to poorer regions.

Yet typically for an organisation that often struggles to speak with a single voice, it was not even clear who will receive the award on its behalf. European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso jointly laid claim. But European Parliament President Martin Schulz made clear he too expects to be invited to the Oslo ceremony. Some might argue that European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi should be there to represent the federal institution that has kept the euro zone show on the road.

The prize cannot exonerate today’s EU leaders from criticism that they often sacrifice long-term European interests to shortterm domestic considerations or institutional turf wars. Vital decisions for the continent’s stability are postponed until after

the next national election in Germany or Spain. Floundering euro zone states Greece, Ireland and Portugal were rescued only at the last moment when they were already drowning, and on punitive, draconian conditions. EU paymaster Germany is now telling Spain its borrowing costs are not yet unbearable enough to justify euro zone and central bank support.

Leaders such as Konrad Adenauer and Charles de Gaulle, who sealed FrancoGerman reconciliation, Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman, who founded the European Coal and Steel Community, and among surviving veterans, Helmut Schmidt, Valery Giscard d’Estaing, Helmut Kohl and Jacques Delors, who prefigured and created the single currency, might all have had a greater claim to Nobel honours than the current crop of EU crisis managers.

The prospect of deeper euro zone integration, widely seen as essential to put the monetary union on a more stable economic and political basis, is clouded by the attachment to national sovereignty of founders such as France and the Netherlands. The Nobel award may find little resonance with a younger generation of Europeans who take peace for granted, having never known war on the continent, except in the former Yugoslavia. Many blame policies promoted by the EU for recession, social regression and mass youth unemployment on the periphery of the euro zone and question what Europe has done for them. Few give the EU credit for having slashed the cost of air travel or mobile phones by forcing open competition and setting common technical standards in the interest of consumers. As Delors, the most influential president of the European Commission, said: “You can’t fall in love with a single market.”

In the latest regular Eurobarometer opinion poll, public trust in the EU fell to its lowest ebb of 31 percent, down from 57

percent in 2007 before the global financial crisis began. National governments have even lower trust readings, but that is scant consolation for European Union officials who feel they have been made a convenient scapegoat for the turmoil. “It’s important to put the record straight in terms of (austerity) programs. It is not true that the guys in Brussels and Frankfurt ... are imposing these policies,” Barroso told a conference on Thursday on “The State of Europe: escaping the doldrums”.

It was national governments, not EU institutions, that had run up excessive debts and budget deficits and allowed real estate bubbles and private credit booms to grow unchecked, he said. And it was national governments that agreed unanimously to the conditions of each bailout program now blamed on Brussels. Such arguments carry little weight in the streets of Athens or Madrid. “I don’t see the logic in the EU getting this prize right now. They can’t even agree among themselves,” said Francisco Gonzalez, a 62-year-old Madrid businessman. “We’re all very tense right now with the crisis and all that’s going on here. I don’t know if it’s really the right time for them to get this,” added Alejadro Roman, a 20-yearold Spanish student. But in the court of European public opinion, the voice of the Nobel committee will carry some weight and may perhaps give EU leaders a bit more courage to make the case for European integration to their publics. That will be especially important in Germany, Europe’s central power, where Chancellor Angela Merkel is struggling to convince an angry electorate that showing solidarity with weaker euro zone states is in Berlin’s economic interest. “What is missing is a clear sense of what we are trying to achieve, where we are trying to get to in two or three years’ time,” said Etienne Davignon, a former European Commissioner and grandee of EU integration. — Reuters

Biden rekindles controversy over Libya

By Susan Cornwell he Obama administration’s latest verbal bungle over the chain of events leading to the deadly attack in Benghazi, Libya, rekindled the controversy over the incident on Friday and offered new ammunition to Republican opponents. In Thursday night’s vice presidential debate, Vice President Joe Biden insisted that “we weren’t told they wanted more security” at the ill-fated US diplomatic mission in Benghazi, where US Ambassador Christopher Stevens died. Biden’s statement, at least on the surface, appeared to contradict congressional testimony less than 48 hours earlier from State Department officials, and offered a fresh opening for Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney, who has repeatedly sought to attack the White House over the issue.

It was the latest example of a White House, which has long prided itself on “message discipline,” flubbing its own message on the Libya attacks. President Barack Obama and his aides have struggled to explain why they first described the violence as growing out of protests over an anti-Muslim movie, only later to acknowledge it was an organized attack by militants.

In a written commentary the day before Biden spoke, prominent national security analyst Anthony Cordesman said the administration had “fumbled the situation by going into a state of confused denial” about Libya. The administration should also have made a stronger case for establishing on-the-scene diplomacy in a volatile environment such as postGaddafi Libya, he wrote.

Cordesman also said the Republicans had turned the Benghazi events into a “gotcha” contest where the president is somehow blamed for “largely local

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security decisions”. The White House was quick to defend Biden on Friday, saying he had been speaking only for himself and Obama - in other words, not for anyone else in the administration who might have heard about the dangers facing Americans in Libya’s relatively lawless second city before Stevens and three other Americans were killed on the night of Sept 11. Romney went back on the offensive on Friday, saying Biden had contradicted the sworn testimony of State Department officials. “He’s doubling down on denial,” Romney charged.

Biden’s “we did not know” comment fed into Republican criticism that the administration had been less than truthful about a violent assault on US interests during an election year in which Obama previously seemed to have the upper hand in foreign policy. “We weren’t told they wanted more security. ... We did not know they wanted more security” in Benghazi, Biden said in the debate with Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan. Until now, the Republicans had focused much of their fire about Libya on US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice.

Rice, speaking from talking points prepared by US intelligence agencies, suggested a few days after the Benghazi events that the violence appeared to have been sparked by protests over the anti-Muslim video. Bob Corker, a senior Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Friday the administration had to have known right away that the assault on the mission was car-

ried out by militants and was not triggered by a protest.

“Within 24 hours of the incident the administration knew that this was an orchestrated terrorist attack, and they clearly were aware of the specific details, including requests for additional security, that have finally been made public this week,” Corker said in a statement. “With the vice president continuing this ruse with his comments last night, all Americans should ask what the administration is trying to hide,” he added.

At the congressional hearing on Wednesday, two US security officers described their frustration that their requests for more security resources in Libya were ignored in the weeks and months before the assault on the Benghazi mission. An official from the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security acknowledged at the hearing that she had turned aside pleas for more security. “I said personally I would not support it,” the official, Charlene Lamb, said when asked about one particular request to extend deployment of a 16-person US military team that left Libya in August, a month before the bloodshed in Benghazi.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Friday that Biden had been “speaking directly for himself and the president” with his comments about diplomatic security, not for the State Department, where Carney said such issues were “appropriately” handled. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also tried to smooth over the controversy, saying the administration was dealing with the best available information as it came in about the events in Benghazi. “To this day - to this day - we do not have a complete picture. We do not have all the answers. No one in this administration has ever claimed otherwise,” Clinton said at an appearance with visiting Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi.

Cordesman, the analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said he did not believe Biden misspoke.

He said the top echelons of an administration did not know all details of security requests that came in from “lots of crisis countries”. “This is the vice president of the United States, and you are talking about a security chain coming from one embassy, one consulate structure, in a highly unstable country,” Cordesman, a former intelligence expert at the Pentagon, said in a telephone interview. — Reuters

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

sp orts Thorpe reveals ‘crippling depression’

White admits to doping PARIS: Australian Matt White has stepped down as Orica-GreenEDGE sports director yesterday after admitting to doping while riding with Lance Armstrong’s U.S. Postal cycling team. “I am sad to say that I was part of a team where doping formed part of the team’s strategy, and I too was involved in that strategy,” White, who rode at US Postal from 2001-03, said in a statement.“Given my admissions above, I have been in contact with my employees and will be voluntarily standing down from my positions with the National Men’s High Performance Program with Cycling Australia and as a Sports Director with GreenEDGE Cycling while inquiries into my case are conducted and the Board of Cycling Australia and GreenEDGE make a determination regarding my future with each organisation.”

On Wednesday, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) published a 1,000-page document which said that Armstrong used banned substances and organised team doping during his career.

Although he has denied any wrongdoing, Armstrong, who is set to lose his record seven Tour de France titles, has chosen not to fight the USADA charges before an arbitration panel.

White, 38, was fired from the Garmin team in 2010 after allegedly sending rider Trent Lowe to consult with a doctor outside the team’s frame, Spaniard Luis Garcia del Moral.

SYDNEY: Five-time Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe says he spent much of his life battling “crippling depression”, occasionally considered suicide and often turned to heavy alcohol consumption to manage his moods.

In an extract of Thorpe’s upcoming book, “This is Me: The Autobiography,” published in Australian media yesterday, he said he had never spoken openly about his mental condition to friends or family.

“Not even my family is aware that I’ve spent a lot of my life battling what I can only describe as a crippling depression”.The 30-year-old Thorpe said while did not consider himself an alcoholic, he relied on it more and more as time went on.

“I used alcohol as a means to rid my head of terrible thoughts, as a way of managing my moods - but I did it behind closed doors, where many depressed people choose to fight their demons before they realize they can’t do it without help,” he wrote. “There were numerous occasions, particularly between 2002 and 2004 as I trained to defend my Olympic titles in Athens, that I abused myself this way - always alone and in a mist of disgrace.” He said he was able to hide his drinking from sports psychologists and coaches, and at times considered suicide.

Thorpe retired in November 2006 after setting 13 individual world records and winning 11 world championship golds. He won the 200 and 400 free at the 2004 Athens Olympics in his last major international meet. He came out of retirement last year, but failed to qualify for the London Olympics. Among other issues he discusses in the book is the persistent speculation about his sexuality. —AP

Snooker player suspended LONDON: Leading English snooker player Stephen Lee was suspended from all competition Friday while authorities investigate suspicious betting patterns in a match against four-time world champion John Higgins. The seventh-ranked Lee was stood down by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association pending an inquiry into his Premier League match against Higgins on Thursday. Higgins won the match 42 but isn’t under investigation.

“The WPBSA have concluded that it would not be appropriate for Stephen Lee to continue to compete on the World Snooker Tour whilst these investigations are undertaken,” a WPBSA statement read, “and therefore WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Stephen from competition whilst this enquiry is ongoing.”

The latest inquiry comes after English prosecutors said earlier this month that there will be no criminal proceedings following match-fixing allegations against Lee in 2010 after a joint operation between the police and the Gambling Commission. The WPBSA is already conducting its own inquiry into the case, with Lee denying any wrongdoing.

Lee, who turned 38 on Thursday, can appeal the suspension. Widely regarded as having the best cue action in the game, Lee has recently returned to form after a spell in the doldrums since 2006. He has won five ranking events in his 20-year professional career, the most recent coming at this year’s PTC Grand Finals in China - his first title in six years. —AP

Cards rally to defeat Nats

NEW YORK: Yankees’ Curtis Granderson safely steals second base past the tag

by Baltimore Orioles’ Robert Andino during the fifth inning in Game 5 of the American League division baseball series. —AP

Yankees look to tame Tigers NEW YORK: CC Sabathia boosted the New York Yankees past the Baltimore Orioles, ending a spellbinding six-week drama that drove and drained both teams.

New York advanced to an AL championship series matchup with Detroit, beating Baltimore 3-1 in Game 5 of their AL division series on Friday behind Sabathia’s four-hitter.

Andy Pettitte, the career postseason leader with 19 wins, starts Game 1 for the Yankees on Saturday night with a rested bullpen behind him, opposed by Doug Fister. It’s a rematch of last year’s division series won by the Tigers in five games and provides a platform for Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera, baseball’s first Triple Crown winner in 45 years.

“I don’t know if you can shut him down, but try to keep him from doing too much damage in the series, and that’s key to us winning,” Pettitte said.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi faces another big decision. After benching slumping Alex Rodriguez for Game 5 against the Orioles, will he insert him back at third base against a Detroit team with four right-handers in its starting rotation?

To get back to the ALCS for the first time in two years, the Yankees had to shake off Baltimore. The teams were separated by no more than a game from Sept. 3-24, the longest September stretch that tight between first- and second-place clubs since the 19th century.

The Yankees had some help from the right field umpire, just as they did against the Orioles in the 1996 ALCS - hello, Jeffrey Maier.

With New York ahead 1-0 in the sixth, Nate McLouth’s drive down the right-field line on a 3-1 pitch was called foul by the slimmest of margins.

Fieldin Culbreth demonstrably waved foul with both arms. Orioles manager Buck Showalter jogged onto the field to ask for a video review, and four umpires went down a tunnel on the third-base side to examine the images on a screen near their dressing room.

When they ran back onto the field about two minutes later, they didn’t make any signal meaning the original call stood. McLouth struck out on the next pitch, ending the inning.

“I saw it go to the right of the pole,” Culbreth said. “There is netting there and it didn’t touch the netting. It did not change direction,” he added, indicating he did not think the ball grazed the pole.

Added crew chief Brian Gorman: “We saw the same thing on the replay. There was no evidence to overturn the decision.” McLouth wondered what the umps would decide.

“It started off fair and it was just hooking a little bit. I thought it was foul just in game speed,” McLouth said. “A couple of people mentioned it might’ve ticked the pole, but he was way closer than I was and I was satisfied after they went down and looked at the replay that it was foul.”

Steven Ellis, a fan from the Broad Channel section of Queens, caught the ball with his Yankee cap in the second deck. “It was foul all the way, never hit the pole,” he said.

Back in 1996, the 12-year-old Maier reached over the wall above right fielder Tony Tarasco and deflected Derek Jeter’s fly ball. Umpire Richie Garcia called it a home run, which tied the score 4-all in the eighth inning, and the Yankees went on to win in the 11th. “Just watching at home, I promise,” Maier texted to The Associated Press after this play.

Sabathia went on to defeat the Orioles for the second time in six days, Raul Ibanez hit a goahead single in the fifth off Jason Hammel after former Baltimore high school star Mark Teixeira singled and swiped second in a rare steal.

Diving second baseman Robert Andino just missed gloving Ibanez’s hit.

Ichiro Suzuki added an RBI double off the right-center field wall in the sixth. Curtis Granderson boosted the lead to 3-0 with a second-deck solo homer against Troy Patton in the seventh.

Sabathia, who improved to 4-0 in his last eight postseason starts, didn’t allow an extrabase hit. He struck out eight, walked two and matched his season high of 121 pitches.

“He didn’t pitch all five, but it certainly felt like it, didn’t it?” Showalter said. Sabathia took a one-hit shutout into the eighth but allowed Matt Wieters’ leadoff single and Manny Machado’s walk. Mark Reynolds struck out, and Lew Ford - starting at DH in place of Jim Thome - hit an RBI single.

Andino hit a bouncer to the third-base side that Sabathia gloved, but Eric Chavez left third uncovered and Sabathia’s throw to second was late, leaving the bases loaded. With David Robertson warming up in the New York bullpen, McLouth struck out on a changeup and Sabathia escaped when J.J. Hardy hit a slow three-hopper to shortstop that Jeter, playing on a sore left ankle, charged and gloved elegantly before throwing to first just in time.

Sabathia pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, finishing a 121-pitch effort as Wieters hit a comebacker.

The Yankees ran out of their dugout to celebrate on the third-base side of the mound and the Orioles walked off slowly and somberly.

“It’s been about as much fun as I have had in the big leagues watching how they play the game every day, the standard they held themselves to and the way they raised the bar in Baltimore with each other,” said Showalter, who has not reached the LCS in 14 major league seasons.

New York won for the 12th time in 23 meetings between the teams in a matchup so close the Yankees outscored the Orioles 106-102. The teams were within one run of each other at the end of 46 of 52 innings in the division series.

New York totaled just 16 runs in the five games and Baltimore 10, ending a dynamic six-week struggle. After 10 different nights in September, the rivals were tied for first.

“They are a very good club and they are a very resilient club,” Girardi said. “People thought they were going to go away, they never went away.” —AP

WASHINGTON: In the end, it made sense that Yadier Molina and David Freese would work those key walks, and that Daniel Descalso and Pete Kozma would come through with those tying and go-ahead, two-run hits.

The names might change. Not the outcomes. This is what the St. Louis Cardinals do. Pushed to the brink, they never blink. Trailing by three runs before they recorded an out Friday night, then six before the third inning was over, and still behind when down to their last strike over and over again with two outs in the ninth inning, the defending World Series champions fashioned the sort of comeback they’ve made their specialty. Waiting until after midnight to finally take the lead, the never-give-up Cardinals erased the biggest deficit ever overcome in a winner-take-all postseason contest and beat the Washington Nationals 9-7 in Game 5 of the NL division series.

“How did that happen?!” Carlos Beltran asked, speaking to no one in particular in the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park.

Not long before that, a blue bin stuffed with ice and beer cans had been hurriedly wheeled from the Nationals’ side of the stadium to the Cardinals’ room.

Yes, the Cardinals turn losses into wins - and then they steal the other guys’ bubbly, too. “We never quit,” Molina said. “That’s our rule.” According to STATS LLC, no other club in this sort of ultimate pressure situation had come back from more than four runs down. But being behind 3-0, 6-0, 7-5 - none of that fazes these Cardinals. Over the past two years, they have won six postseason games in a row in which a defeat would have ended their season. “We knew we had a lot of game left after they scored six. Nobody went up there trying to hit a six-run homer,” said No. 7 hitter Descalso, whose solo shot in the eighth made it 6-5. “We needed to scratch and claw and get ourselves back in the game.” That run of recent must-have victories for St. Louis includes the wild-card playoff game at Atlanta last weekend, and Games 6 and 7 of the 2011 World Series against Texas. Last year, too, St. Louis was a strike away from being done.

“It’s just the kind of people they are. They believe in themselves. They believe in each other,” first-year manager Mike Matheny said. “It’s been this style of team all season long. They just don’t quit, and I think that just says a lot about their character.” His wild-card Cardinals, who only secured a playoff spot on the next-to-last day of the regular season, will open the NL championship series against the Giants in San Francisco on Sunday.

Lance Lynn, used in relief against Washington, will go back to the rotation and start Game 1. Madison Bumgarner will pitch Sunday for the Giants, who dropped the first two games of their NLDS against Cincinnati before taking Game 5 on Thursday. The Nationals led the majors with 98 regular-season wins, and made it an even 100 in the NLDS, but their run ended without All-Star ace Stephen Strasburg. The team said he’d thrown enough in his first full season after Tommy John surgery and didn’t put him on the playoff roster. “I stand by my decision, and we’ll take the criticism as it comes,” general manager Mike Rizzo said, “but we have to do what’s best for the Washington Nationals, and we think we did.” Even without Strasburg, Washington had its chances to knock off the Cardinals. Oh, were there chances. For a total of five pitches, closer Drew Storen was one strike away from ending the game. But on all five, the batters - first Molina, then 2011 NLCS and World Series MVP Freese took a pitch that was called a ball. Both walked, setting the stage for Descalso and Kozma.

“We had it right there, and the most disappointing thing I’ll say is that I just let these guys down,” Storen said in a quiet Nationals clubhouse, where plastic sheets meant to protect belongings from spraying champagne were rolled up above players’ lockers, unneeded. “There’s a bad taste in my mouth and that’s going to stay there for a couple of months. It’s probably

never going to leave.” That’s thanks to the resilience of the Cardinals, who came through the way they tend to, if only barely: Descalso, who hit .227 in the regular season, came up with a game-saving single that ticked off the glove of diving shortstop Ian Desmond to make it 7-all. Then it was No. 8 hitter Kozma’s turn. He hit .236 in nearly 2,500 at-bats over six seasons in the minors - the unheralded guy was mistakenly called “Cosmos” by Nationals manager Davey Johnson before Game 4 and was in the Cardinals’ lineup only because of an injury to Rafael Furcal. But he sent another pitch from Storen into right field. “I was looking for a good fastball to hit. He gave it to me,” Kozma said. “You can’t write this stuff up. It just happens.” Cardinals closer Jason Motte, who got the win with two innings of one-run relief, said: “Maybe we’re just stubborn. These guys, they don’t give away at-bats, that’s the thing.”

When Motte got Ryan Zimmerman to pop out, the Cardinals streamed from the visiting dugout for hugs and high-fives. This, though, was nothing new to them.

Down to their last strike in the Fall Classic a year ago, trailing by the exact same 7-5 score in the ninth inning, the Cardinals rallied in Game 6 and then took the championship in what turned out to be the final year with the club for slugging first baseman Albert

ship,” Johnson said, “and to not go after them at the end was not fun to watch.”

In Game 6 of last year’s World Series, the Cardinals twice were one strike from losing, before Freese’s tworun triple in the ninth, then Lance Berkman’s tying RBI single in the 10th. Freese’s homer won it in the 11th, the Rangers never got to pop their champagne corks, and St. Louis went on to a 6-2 victory in Game 7. Here they were, doing it again. The alcoholic beverages waiting for the Nationals got moved down the hallway to the Cardinals’ side.

All while a Nationals Park-record crowd of 45,966 witnessed the first postseason series in the nation’s capital in 79 years. So seemingly close to a significant triumph, the Nationals - and their fans - left disappointed. Not long after the final out, a few dozen Cardinals fans gathered in the rows right behind the visiting dugout to chant, “Let’s go, Cards! Let’s go, Cards!”

Hours earlier, the red-dressed D.C. spectators began the night with chants of “Let’s go, Nats!” right after the national anthem, then filled the raw October air with roars as run after run scored for the home team. At the outset, highlights of leadoff hitter Werth’s epic, 13-pitch at-bat from about 251/2 hours before were shown on

ST. LOUIS: Members of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after Game 5 of the National League division baseball series against the Washington Nationals. —AP Pujols and then-manager Tony La Russa. Now Matheny has them four wins away from another World Series appearance. And to think: Washington, which won the NL East, got off to as good a start as possible Friday.

Seven pitches, three runs. Just like that, Jayson Werth’s double, Bryce Harper’s triple and Zimmerman’s homer got the hosts jump-started. A big third inning highlighted by the 19-year-old Harper’s homer made it 6-0. The Cardinals were not about to go gently into the night. They chipped away.

One run off 21-game winner Gio Gonzalez in the fourth, a pair in the fifth, another in the seventh off Edwin Jackson.

Suddenly, it was 6-4. Then came Descalso’s homer off Tyler Clippard in the eighth. After Kurt Suzuki drove in a run for Washington to get the lead back up to 7-5, the four-run ninth against Storen - who had elbow surgery in April, returned to the team in July and reclaimed his closer role with a near-perfect September - completed the reversal.

“We’ve had a great year overcoming a lot of hard-

the video board as he began the bottom of the first. On Thursday night, he ended Game 4 with a homer in the bottom of the ninth that gave Washington a 2-1 victory. Picking up right where he left off, Werth doubled to the left-field corner off Adam Wainwright, and Harper followed with an RBI triple off the wall in left-center.

Harper won’t turn 20 until Tuesday; no other teen had a postseason three-bagger, according to STATS. Zimmerman completed the crescendo with his tworun homer. In 11 previous postseason appearances mainly as a reliever - Wainwright never had allowed more than one run, much less three in a single inning.

Got worse in the third, and his evening was over after 2 1-3 innings. His season, however, will continue. He plays for the can’t-quit Cardinals, after all.

“It was the lowest I ever felt in my career and then all of a sudden it’s one of the highest moments in my career,” Wainwright said. “That’s the great thing about playing on an amazing team. You have someone go out and have a terrible performance like I did, and the rest of the team went out there and fought hard and didn’t give up.”—AP

Muralitharan: Ban spot-fixers for life

NEW YORK : Yankees’ CC Sabathia (52) reacts after Game 5 of the American League division baseball series against the Baltimore Orioles. —AP

SINGAPORE: Anyone involved in spot-fixing should be banned for life, former Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan told Reuters yesterday, days after six umpires were provisionally suspended for allegedly agreeing to fix matches.

Hindi-language India TV showed footage on Monday of what the news channel said was officials from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka negotiating deals with under-cover reporters to affect the outcome of matches.

Pakistan’s Nadeem Ghauri and Anees Siddiqui, Nadir Shah of Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka’s Gamini Dissanayake, Maurice Winston and Sagara Gallage were all seen agreeing to give favourable decisions in exchange for umpiring contracts and money. Shah and Ghauri have denied the charges.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) imposed the suspension on Wednesday ahead of investigations and Muralitharan, the leading wicket taker both in test and one-day internationals, said anyone found

guilty deserved the severest punishment. “Definitely, people that do these things should be punished for life. They, at any level, should not be tolerated,” the 40-year-old told Reuters in an interview in Singapore yesterday. “I think the ICC are doing the right thing...if they are found guilty, they will definitely be punished.” The latest case of spot-fixing was another blot on the sport which suffered a wave of negative headlines when three Pakistani internationals were found guilty of spot-fixing during a test series in England two years ago.

Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were jailed in Britain for their roles in a gamblinginspired plot to bowl no-balls at prearranged times during a test match at London’s Lord’s Cricket Ground in August 2010. In May, another sting operation by India TV led to the Indian cricket board banning one uncapped player for life and handing out lesser punishments to four others for involvement in corruption in domestic cricket.

Muralitharan, who took 800 test wickets in a glittering career to go with 534 from one-dayers, backed the ICC and said it was good that people were being caught and not allowed to get away with damaging the sport.

“I think they (the ICC) are doing the right things but there are always bad eggs in everything,” the offspinner known more commonly as ‘Murali’ said.

“In society there are good people and bad people and it has always been like that, but fortunately they get caught so that means cricket is getting cleaner and cleaner.

“I think ICC are doing a lot of education (programmes for players).

Cricket boards, match referees, management (are also) educating, so there is enough education.”

While Muralitharan has retired from international cricket after nearly two decades of bamboozling batsmen, he continues to ply his trade in the lucrative world of Twenty20.

He is contracted to play one

more season with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and has signed up for a season with the Melbourne Renegades in Australia’s Big Bash which starts in December.

“Definitely, IPL is one of the big tournaments in the world, Big Bash as well. I’m playing in the Big Bash, hopefully for the first time and hopefully I will do well in Australia.

“One more year I will play for the Royal Challengers and we will see after (that). See how my form goes,” he said of his future beyond those tournaments.

Muralitharan’s appearances down under could also bring the Sri Lankan up against sprint king Usain Bolt, with the multiple Olympic champion rumored to be discussing dropping his running spikes for a brief spell in the tournament. “(I would) Love to meet him, he is one of the greatest sportsmen in the world, everyone loves him so hopefully we score so many runs and he chases the ball,” Muralitharan laughed. —Reuters

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

sp orts

Choi leads in Malaysia

SPAIN: Real Madrid’s centre Felipe Reyes (left) vies with Panathinaikos’ Croatian guard Roko Ukic (right) during the Euroleague basketball match.—AP

Olympiakos hand Nocioni sour Euroleague return BELGRADE: Former Chicago Bulls forward Andres Nocioni got a rude awakening on his return to the Euroleague after eight seasons in the NBA when holders Olympiakos Piraues beat his Spanish side Caja Laboral 85-81 in the opening round of matches.

Nocioni, who joined the Bulls in 2004 after winning the Olympic gold medal with Argentina in the Athens Games, was guilty of an astonishing miss with the clock ticking in the final minute of a tense contest.

The lead changed hands several times and with 22 seconds left, Nocioni missed an easy layup with Caja Laboral trailing by four points.

The 32-year old, however, remained upbeat about his team’s chances to reach the latter stages of the 24-team competition and improving his own form.

“We knew it would be a very difficult road game against the defending champions and we should have won it, but a few details decided the outcome,” he told the competition’s official website (www.euroleague.net).

“It’s too early for conclusions because we have just got started and the season is long.” Polish centre Maciej Lampe topped the scoring with 18 points for Caja Laboral, Brad Oleson netted 13 while Fernando San Emeterio, Nemanja Bjelica and Nocioni chipped in with 11 each.

Forwards Georgios Printezis and playmaker Vassilis Spanoulis led Olympiakos with 17 and 16 points respectively. On Friday, eight-time winners Real Madrid rallied to beat Panathinaikos Athens 85-78 thanks to a superb performance by former

Portland Trailblazers point guard Rudy Fernandez.

Real trailed by nine points to Panathinaikos in a battle of former champions but showed all their resilience after the break as Fernandez scored 23 points.

The 27-year old also drew a standing ovation from the home fans when he buried an off-balance fadeaway shot to make the score 81-74 in the final minute and capped his memorable game with a dunk on the buzzer to see off the Greek side.

Centre Sofoklis Schortsanitis, who once played for bitter city foes Olympiakos, led Panathinaikos with 23 points, making all nine shots from the field, but his solo effort was not enough as the supporting cast misfired.

“It’s an important win because we managed to beat a good and rebuilt team after losing our initial advantage in the second quarter, said Real coach Pablo Laso.

“We improved our defence when we got back from the locker room and played more attractive basketball after the break,” he added.

Elsewhere, Slovenian side Olimpija Ljubljana celebrated their first away Euroleague win in 10 years after upsetting Mapooro Cantu 84-71 while Alba Berlin produced a surprise 92-82 victor y at Montepaschi Siena.

CSKA Moscow were stretched in their 75-73 defeat of Lithuania’s Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius, 2010 champions Barcelona strolled to a 72-60 win over Germany’s Bamberg and Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Spaniards Unicaja Malaga 85-80.—Reuters

Darius Boyd in action in this file photo

Australia edge NZ TOWNSVILLE: Darius Boyd crossed for a try seven minutes from full time to give Australia a hard-fought 18-10 win over New Zealand in a one-off rugby league test yesterday.

New Zealand have not beaten Australia in a one-off test since 2003 and the hosts only prevailed after withstanding an early barrage of pressure from Stephen Kearney’s side after halftime.

Issac Luke scored a try for New Zealand in the seventh minute and teammate Gerard Beale crossed just before halftime to level the scores 10-10 at the break.

Smith and James Tamou crossed for Australia in the first half, while Johnathan Thurston kicked two conversions and a penalty to eclipse Mick Cronin’s longstanding Australian-record points tally of 102 against New Zealand.

Cameron Smith became only the third player to captain a side to three trophies in a year after helping Melbourne to the National Rugby League premiership and

Queensland to a seventh straight State of Origin series win over New South Wales.

New Zealand started the match strongly and Luke opened the scoring when he dived out of dummy-half to cross for a try.

David Shillington and man of the match Matt Scott both made big hit-ups to move the ball downfield and Scott, playing in front of his home crowd, made a fantastic break before Smith evaded two defenders to get over the line for Australia.

Towering front rower Tamou sidestepped two tackles to find the line and give Australia the lead, but Beale finished off a wonder ful move to bring New Zealand level at halftime.

Thurston kicked a penalty to give the hosts a slender lead in the 63rd minute after Krisnan Inu was harshly penalized for a strip on Greg Inglis, and winger Boyd gathered a brilliant flick pass from Paul Gallen for a clear run under the posts to seal the win.—AP

KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champion Nayeon Choi of South Korea posted a 3-under 68 yesterday to maintain a two-shot lead after the rain-interrupted third round of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.

Choi birdied the first hole before rain halted play for more than four hours. She finished with four birdies and a bogey on the 10th hole for a 13-under total of 200.

Fellow South Korean Park Inbee is two shots back after putting up the day’s best score of 65, while Karrie Webb of Australia is another two shots back after a 68.

Choi, who won the US Women’s Open in July for her first major title, is trying to become the second player this season to defend a title. Yani Tseng of Taiwan won backto-back titles at the Honda LPGA Thailand in February.

“I think I had a pretty hard time today,” Choi said. “It was raining all day. That’s why I play so long. We wake up like 12 hours ago and that’s a pretty long day.

“I have to focus on my game, play my game, just play one shot at a time. I think that’s my goal tomorrow.” Inbee also put together a strong performance at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club “I think I played much better in the rain than hot. The front nine was a little bit disappointing but I just knew the birdies would come out. I just tried to trust myself,” Inbee said. “I think I still need a lot of birdies tomorrow to win. I’ll just go out there and play aggressive and try to get myself a lot of

birdies.” Suzann Pettersen of Norway, who produced a 7-under 64 on Friday, shot a 70 in the third round and is tied for fourth with Ai Miyazato of Japan at 8 under.

Pettersen was in contention and only a stroke behind Choi at the turn but her chances faded after a double bogey on the

15th and another bogey on the 16th. No. 2ranked Stacy Lewis of the United States is tied for 28th after posting a 73. The tournament opens the tour’s four-event Asian swing. The HanaBank Championship is scheduled for next week in South Korea, followed by stops in Taiwan and Japan.—AP

KUALA LUMPUR: Na Yeon Choi of South Korea hits a shot on the 9th hole during the third round of the LPGA Malaysia golf tournament .—AP

Mallinger leaves pack behind SAN MARTIN: American John Mallinger posted seven birdies and an eagle to power to a fourshot lead after Friday’s second round of the Frys.com Open in San Martin, California.

Searching for his maiden win on the Tour, Mallinger was flawless with a course-record equaling nine-under 62, remaining bogey-free through the opening two rounds to reach 14-under 128 at CordeValle Golf Club.

The 33-year-old pulled away from the leading pack when he knocked in an 11-foot putt for eagle on the 15th hole and then stepped on the gas with birdies on the 17th and 18th.

Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas (67) and American Billy Horschel (65) finished the day tied for second at 10-under. Australian overnight leader Nick O’Hern couldn’t maintain his course record tying rage from the opening day, backing up his 62 with an even par 71 to share fourth place with Belgian Ryder Cup rookie Nicolas Colsaerts (68) and American Scott Dunlap (63) at nine-under.

Mallinger was in jovial spirits after the round, joking with reporters not to talk about his bogey-free streak so as not to jinx his form.

He did however open up

about his blistering day when asked how often he felt this good during a round. “It’s only the second time I’ve shot 62 in seven years out here, so it’s not very often,” he said.

“It’s just one of those days where everything just kind of clicks and you just roll with it. I drove it great, irons were great, and made putts.”

The California native was extra comfortable on the greens. “It’s the same grass I practice on at home,” Mallinger, who resides in Long Beach, said.

“I’m just real comfortable with the speed. I just have some good thoughts over the putter right

now, and that’s not every week.

“Hopefully I can take advantage of it and keep it going into the weekend.” After finishing second at the Humana Challenge back in January, Mallinger believes he can go one further on the weekend.

“It’s difficult. I’ve been out here six years and I haven’t won yet.

Been close a lot of times, lost in a playoff, had a bunch of third places,” he said.

“I feel like I’m close. I don’t think I would be up here if I wasn’t. I’m not going to go into the weekend scared. “I’m going to play as hard as I can and compete as hard as I can.”—Reuters

Martin wins Beijing race, Cummings wins 5th stage BEIJING: Tony M ar tin of Germany successfully defended his Tour of Beijing title yesterday while Steven Cummings of Britain beat Ryder Hesjedal in a t wo -man sprint to claim the fifth and final stage.

Canada’s Hesjedal led the final climb to tear apar t the leading group of breakaway riders on the 182.5-k ilometer (113.5-mile) stage, but neither he nor Cummings could threaten Omega Pharma-QuickStep’s Martin for the overall victory.

Cummings, of BMC Racing, easily won the sprint to take the stage with Team Sk y rider Edvald Boasson Hagen of Norway finishing third. Martin finished the stage 18 seconds behind.

Overall, Martin finished 40 seconds ahead of Francesco G avazzi of Astana. Boasson Hagen of Team Sky was a further six seconds back . I t is Mar tin’s seventh victor y this year, including the team and individual time trials in the Road Cycling World Championships.

“I am super happy, over the moon,” Martin said. “It’s a really special win for me because I think there was a little bit of pressure on me. A lot of people were expecting for me to win again. I’m really proud of myself and of my teammates which did a great job this week.”

On the final stage, a dozen riders broke away from the pack at the 87.5 k ilometer mark , gaining more than 90 seconds

on the peloton. Twenty kilometers later, Hesjedal accelerated and was followed by Cummings.

Hesjedal, the 2012 Giro d ‘Italia winner, said he never gave up on winning the stage.

“I believed it was possible to win until we crossed the first line,” Hesjedal said. “We had very little information about the gap, and given we had 35 seconds at

the top of the last climb and a few seconds of time bonus to take on the finish line, I thought I was going for final victory.” But Cummings proved to be fastest.

“I am happy after such a long day,” Cummings said. “You have to try in the breakaway. It was a big breakaway, so it was difficult for the peloton to chase behind, so long as we kept the pressure

on in front. When we were together, we did a good job together.”

R adioShack-N issan’s Andy Schleck abandoned the stage after 42 kilometers (26 miles) due a nagging hip injury. The 2010 Tour de France champion, and runner-up in 2009 and 2011, failed to win a race this year.—AP

BEIJING: Champion of Tour of Beijing 2012, Tony Martin (center) of Omega PharmaQuickstep, celebrates with the first runner-up Francesco Gavazzi (left) of Astana Pro Team and the second runner-up Edvald Boasson Hagen (right) of Sky Procycling after their stage five race. —AP

Pietersen ends exile with 14 runs for Daredevils CENTURION: Controversial England batsman Kevin Pietersen struck 14 runs off 18 balls when he ended his cricket exile yesterday by playing for Delhi Daredevils in a Champions League Twenty20 game. Batting at No 3 for the Indian Premier League franchise in a first round pool match at SuperSport Park, Pietersen tried an onside pull off Brett Lee and was caught by Sunil Narine at deep mid-wicket.

Pietersen managed just one four in his first appearance since being sidelined by England during a summer Test series against South Africa following a text message storm.

The South Africa-born batsman allegedly criticised England teammates-including highly

respected skipper Andrew Strauss-in texts sent to rival players.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier later alleged in a radio interview that Pietersen was provoked into texting the South Africans, but the claim was swiftly denied. “Absolute rubbish,” said Cricket South Africa acting chief executive Jacques Faul while the national cricket players’ association demanded that Collier apologise.

Pietersen is keen to resume his international career and there has been media speculation that he may be added to the England squad for a tour of India from November.

“Playing cricket for England is the pinnacle of

any career and I want an opportunity to do that again as soon as possible,” Pietersen said after mending relations with his adopted country.

“Some of the proudest and best moments of my life have been in an England shirt and I want them to continue for as long as possible. I am entirely committed to completing the reintegration process. “That will take place over the coming weeks and I then want to resume by England career in all formats, hopefully until the 2015 World Cup, as long as my body allows.”

Fast bowlers Stuart Broad and James Anderson are looking forward to the return of Pietersen, who made his Test debut for England in mid-2005 against Australia.— AFP

US tipped again for Nobel Economics as Europe lags Page 22

Kuwait budget surplus could hit KD 11bn Page 23

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

US deficit tops $1tn for 4th year in a row Page 25

Palestinians seek work in Israel as crisis deepens Page 24

TOKYO: International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde (center in purple) and attendees pose for a group photo during the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) meeting as part of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Tokyo. — AFP

Finance leaders endorse ‘do-list’ for EU, US IMF members warn global economy decelerating TOKYO: World finance leaders yesterday endorsed a checklist of policy reforms aimed at pressuring Europe and the United States to tackle debt troubles that threaten to choke off global growth.

To hold each others’ feet to the fire, the nations- meeting under the aegis of the International Monetary Fundagreed to review progress in six months. Their 10-page agenda, however, largely summarized previously planned steps, such as deploying a new European Central Bank bondbuying program and avoiding the US “fiscal cliff” of spending cuts and tax hikes set to take hold early next year.

The checklist and checkup were an acknowledgement of frustration within the IMF and among many emerging market economies over a sluggish

and piecemeal policy response to the major risks facing the world economy.

IMF chief Christine Lagarde said nations had narrowed their differences over how to implement policy, seeking to downplay disagreements between the Fund and Germany over how quickly debt-laden countries such as Greece should cut budgets.

“There was no objection to the recommendation that we gave to the membership, which was A-C-T,” Lagarde said, spelling out the word letter by letter.

“We might not always agree on everything, but I think there is a general consensus that collective action is going to produce results,” she told reporters. In a communique released after two days of talks, IMF members warned that global economic growth

was decelerating and that substantial uncertainties and risks remained.

But the IMF’s governing panel, representing the 188 member countries, praised steps that had already been taken, particularly in Europe, to make the world financial system safer, even if they had not yet gone far enough. “Members all agreed that we are in a better position today than we were six months ago,” said Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the chairman of the committee. Spain’s economy minister, Luis de Guindos, said he felt the mood toward his country lifting too.

Spain is under pressure to seek a bailout as it struggles to cope with high government debt and the cost of recapitalizing its banks. “The atmosphere, from International Monetary Fund policymakers or from the private sector, is

much more positive than it was before the summer,” de Guindos said.

Reports from the IMF this week downgraded global economic growth forecasts for the second time since April and warned of the need for action in advanced economies to treat a debt hangover that stems in part from earlier efforts to quell the global financial crisis. To replenish its crisisfighting war chest, the IMF has taken in $461 billion in contributions from member countries, with Algeria and Brunei the newest members of the donor group, Lagarde said. The United States is among the notable absences from the list of contributors.

Frustration over what many nations see as plodding progress in Europe and in Washington spilled into public view during the meetings.

“Asia alone can’t carry the global economy,” said Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan. “It is time for the other players to get off the benches and start to pull their weight on global economic growth again.” Emerging markets, which have been caught in the downdraft created by weak economies in Europe and the United States, were disappointed that the IMF missed its target for enacting voting reforms that would make China the third most influential country within the lending institution.

Lagarde said there were “one or two countries” that had not finalized the reforms, which were agreed in 2010, a thinly veiled reference to the United States. The Obama administration does not want to seek congressional approval for more IMF funding

before the November presidential election. European leaders argued this week they had taken big strides toward building a stronger fiscal and banking union, and they earned at least some recognition from the rest of the world. “ This broad framework offers a more promising strategy for addressing the crisis,” US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said. “However, what is important is how it will be applied.”

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble pointed out that euro-zone decision-making involves 17 national governments, many of which need parliamentary approval, and that takes time. “If we are not fast enough for markets, sorry, but markets have to wait,” he said. — Reuters

China asks US, Japan to fix their finances

HONG KONG: A man cleans dry mushrooms on a street of Hong Kong yesterday. Chinese exports rose 9.9 percent in September year-on-year to a record monthly high, the government said, but analysts warned the performance was unsustainable given the weak global outlook. — AFP

Iran denies plunge in oil exports DUBAI: Iran’s oil exports have remained steady in recent months, Iran’s OPEC governor said yesterday, denying a report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) that Iran is struggling to arrest a decline in its oil sales. In a report on Friday, the IEA estimated Iran’s exports falling to a new low of 860,000 barrels per day (bpd) in September, a huge plunge from 2.2 million bpd at the end of 2011.

The drop in Iranian supply is supporting oil prices and hurting Tehran’s revenues, deepening hardship for a population deprived of basic imports and adding to pressure on the government over its nuclear program.

But Mohammad Ali Khatibi, Iran’s OPEC gov-

ernor, said the IEA’s data was faulty and ran counter to data provided to OPEC by Iran. “Iran’s oil exports are the same as previous months and the situation is stable,” Khatibi was quoted as saying by the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) yesterday.

Khatibi also denied that the only buyers of Iranian oil were China, India, South Korea, Japan, and Turkey.

“The market for Iranian oil is beyond the mentioned countries...We are always exploring new markets but we don’t publicize them much because it may be detrimental,” Khatibi said without elaborating. The United States and its allies are pressing Tehran to give up its disputed

nuclear program by choking off oil revenues, which provide the vast majority of Iran’s hard currency earnings. Iran says the program is for peaceful purposes.

The European Union banned Iranian crude from July 1 and other countries have cut purchases in response to tighter US sanctions. The EU ban prevents EU insurance firms from covering Iran’s exports, hindering imports by some non-EU buyers.

On Friday, the European Union provisionally approved new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, with senior diplomats giving their backing to measures against Tehran’s banking sector and industry. — Reuters

TOKYO: China said yesterday the failure by Washington and Tokyo to fix their fiscal problems was hurting the global economy, as it called for “bold, swift and decisive action” to reverse a slowdown.

Deputy central bank governor Yi Gang warned the absence of a “credible, medium-term fiscal consolidation in some of the major advanced economies such as the United States and Japan” is unsettling for the world economy. “Uncertainties related to fiscal sustainability weigh on sentiment and confidence, negatively affecting consumption, investment, and hiring decisions,” Yi said in a statement to a key International Monetary Fund committee.

“The slow recovery in these major advanced economies poses costly spillover effects to the rest of the world,” he added. Yi said it “remained to be seen” whether monetary easing measures touted by central banks as an elixir for growth would live up to their billing.

“The slowing global recovery suggests that fundamental constraints to economic growth and financial stability remain unresolved,” he said. “The need for bold, swift, and decisive action to arrest the global slowdown and preserve financial stability is more urgent than ever.” The statement credited Europe for efforts to fix its debilitating debt crisis, calling it a step in “the right direction”, but added that policymakers must follow through on promised reforms.

“A durable solution to the euro area

crisis would provide a much-needed boost to global recovery,” the statement said. On the domestic front, Yi said the Chinese economy would expand “steadily” through the second half of 2012 and keep its “relatively strong momentum in the medium and long term”.

Beijing would also accelerate efforts to boost domestic demand to reduce the economy ’s heavy reliance on exports, he added. Yi’s assurances come amid growing fears that a slowdown in growth in the world’s secondlargest economy will be a drag on the wider world.

Earlier this week the IMF cut its estimate for growth in China to 7.8 percent this year and 8.2 percent in 2013, down from a July estimate of 8.0 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively.

With global growth rates also slowing-down to 3.3 percent this year and 3.6 percent next year, according to IMF forecasts-many are looking to China to help jolt the world back onto a more upward track. Western nations-led by the US-frequently call on Beijing to boost domestic demand, saying China’s lopsided trade relationship in which it expor ts far more than it imports puts them at a disadvantage.

Yi is standing in for his boss, People’s Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan, who is staying away from the Tokyo meeting along with Finance Minister Xie Xuren, in apparent protest.

Japan and China are at loggerheads over the sovereignty of a group of uninhabited, but possibly resource-rich islands in the East China Sea.—AFP

22

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

BUSINESS

US tipped again for Nobel Economics as Europe lags

Bayt.com report

Salary negotiations: The basics

By Lama Ataya

Prize announcement tomorrow STOCKHOLM: Americans top the list of favorites for tomorrow’s Nobel Economics Prize, an award that increasingly rarely seems to go to a European.

The European Union was handed this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, but it seems unlikely that the continent will be home to the winner of the economics prize, which wraps up this year’s Nobel season.

Among the names mentioned in economic circles are Americans Robert Shiller, who studies behavioral finance and the erratic movement of markets, Kenneth Rogoff and Carmen Reinhart, who specialize in public debt, and other topics that make the headlines less frequently, such as Paul Romer’s work on different types of growth.

Of those topping a list compiled by the US Federal Reserve Bank of the world’s most quoted economics researchers, only a handful of names are European. Olivier Blanchard, a 63 year-old Frenchman who ranks eighth on the list, is seen as having little chance of winning the prize as he is currently the chief economist of the International Monetary Fud, a role deemed too political by many to make him a viable candidate. His compatriot Jean Tirole, from the Toulouse School of Economics, at number 11, is the highest placed out of those affiliated with a European university, but at 59 years of age he is considered too young.

British Cypriot Christopher Pissarides, joint laureate in 2010 with two Americans, is the

last European to have won, and the first academic from a European institution to be recognized since 1996.

“I was myself shocked. I was not aware of it,” he wrote in an email to AFP. Before him, there was Norwegian Finn Kydland in 2004, whose entire academic career was in the United States. Asked about the list by AFP, he joked: “I believe I’m from the country with the highest number of economics Nobels per capita in the world. Why aren’t the Americans, for example, doing even nearly as well?”

The past 10 years’ 20 laureates and co-laureates include 17 Americans, of whom two are Israeli-Americans. The Nobel jury’s deliberations are shrouded in mystery and kept secret for 50 years, so it is difficult to know how the committee is thinking.

Unlike the other Nobel prizes which have been handed out since 1901, the Bank of Sweden’s prize for economic sciences in memory of Alfred Nobel-which wasn’t part of Alfred Nobel’s will that created the awardswas only given out for the first time in 1969.

In its first 20 years, the prize was marked by European-American rivalry. But since 1990, the Americans have taken the lead. Today the economics prize is sometimes seen as a competition for a small group of American elite universities: Chicago, Columbia, Princeton, Harvard and MIT. The University of Zurich’s Bruno Frey, coauthor of a 1993 study titled “American and

European Economics and Economists”, argues that the “Europeans are imitating the Americans too much.”

“In Europe we have too few original ideas, we’re constantly looking at what comes from the US. That doesn’t help get Nobel prizes,” he told AFP. Another theory is that the Americans have benefited from a Swedish fascination with the liberal theories of the University of Chicago. With 10 laureates, the university holds a record number of Nobel economics prizes.

Olof Somell, who is responsible for the economy prize at Stockholm’s Nobel Museum, refuted that idea: “The members of the Nobel Committee are chosen to represent a broad spectrum of economic sciences.” It’s “impossible to answer simply the question of why” Europe has been in decline, he said. “But of course it has to do with the domination of US research in economic sciences. There is more research in the US than there is in Europe.”

Robert Bergqvist, formerly of the Swedish central bank and today chief economist at bank SEB, pointed out that to get out of its financial and economic predicament, Europe could use some of the research by leading Nobel prize candidates, European or not.

“How can you prevent imbalances from building up in the system? How can economic policy respond to that?” are the questions that European researchers may want to look at, he argued. — AFP

Saudi Safco net profit falls 5.1% RIYADH: Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Company (Safco) reported a 5.1 percent fall in third-quarter net profits yesterday, beating analyst forecasts, but citing low urea prices for the drop in income.

The affiliate of Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) , the world’s biggest petrochemical company by market value, said in a bourse statement it made net income of 1.15 billion riyals ($306 million) in the three months to Sep 30.

The result was a 47 percent increase on the second quarter of this year, when production was cut by a plant shut down. Eleven analysts polled by Reuters had forecast profit of, on average, 985

million riyals. “The decrease in 3Q net income against 2011 3Q net income was due to the decrease of the average price of urea product,” Safco said in a statement, adding that production and sales volumes had however increased.

The company said the quarter’s gross income had fallen by 1.8 percent on the year. Another Sabic unit, Yansab, earlier yesterday reported its quarterly net profits had almost halved from third-quarter 2011 figures. Higher food prices this year caused by bad weather in important growing countries might raise demand for fertilizer in coming months, analysts have said. — Reuters

C

1. Negotiate: Yes, you can negotiate. Employers actually EXPECT you to negotiate your package, and besides, this will also help you showcase those great negotiation skills which are coveted by employers.

Negotiate After You Have an Offer The time to negotiate your salary is after the employer has decided he wants you on board and has made you a concrete offer - not in the elevator on the way up to the Interview, or after an interview question you think you’ve particularly aced. An offer indicates that the employer wants you on board and is convinced of your skill-set. You now have the upper hand and should use it wisely.

It is far easier to negotiate a satisfactory package at this stage when the employer really wants you, than after you are on board. It is unlikely you will ever be in a better position to negotiate a good package than you are at this stage.

Establish Job Responsibilities Clarify your job responsibilities before beginning to negotiate the compensation. Make sure you have all the facts pertaining to the new position and are very clear about your role, responsibilities and the job title. This detailed knowledge of the position will come in handy as you negotiate your package.

TOKYO: Spanish Economy Minister Luis de Guindos speaks at a press conference at the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Tokyo Yesterday. —AFP

Saudi Samba net profit rises 2.3% RIYADH: Saudi’s Samba Financial Group said yesterday its third-quarter net profit rose 2.3 percent over last year, beating analyst expectations. Saudi banks are benefiting from expansionary fiscal policies, ample liquidity and improving corporate loan demand, according to a July 2 report from Deutsche Bank.

However, results this quarter have been mixed, with Riyad Bank, Saudi British Bank and Banque Saudi Fransi, the third, fourth

ongratulations! You’ve landed the job. Now to take home the package that is most commensurate with your skills, ability, experience and the job responsibilities, the career exper ts at Bayt.com, the Middle East’s leading job site, reveal some basic techniques you can master to help you inch closer to the salary figure you desire!

and fifth largest lenders, missing analyst forecasts.

Bank lending to the private sector grew by 14 percent in August over the same month last year, Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA - central bank), said in September.

A report by Credit Suisse in August predicted Saudi banks should deliver doubledigit earnings growth for the next three years thanks to higher credit volumes.

Samba, the kingdom’s second-largest listed lender by market value said in a bourse statement that it made 1.16 billion riyals ($310 million) compared with 1.14 billion riyals in the three months ending September 30 2011.

Ten analysts surveyed by Reuters forecast the firm to post, on average, a net profit of 1.13 billion riyals. The bank attributed its performance to increased operating income without elaborating. — Reuters

ment agents. Finally, determine an extremely generous salary level that is not too unrealistic for the position and that you are happy with.

Determine Your Salary Range Beforehand Before you can begin negotiating, you need to determine a salary range that you can base your discussions with the employer on.

Firstly, determine the minimum salary you could possibly accept, and make sure this is a salary that you can survive on. Don’t reveal the minimum to the employer in your negotiations.

Next, determine a reasonable midpoint salary based on what the job responsibilities are, what you have to offer the employer and what you are worth in the market. Look at published annual salary surveys and job ads for similar positions and talk to friends in the industry and recruit-

2. Get the Employer to Reveal his Hand First Always get your employer to reveal his hand first to avoid pricing yourself out of the game or limiting the discussions prematurely.

Revealing your expectations or salary history will limit your negotiating range and remove a lot of the leverage you otherwise have.

Do not reveal your previous salary if you can possibly help it. Focus the discussion instead on what your background, responsibilities and potential contributions are worth in this position.

Your goal should be to maximize your worth and potential value to this employer through effective negotiation - the value your previous employer placed on you should be irrelevant.

If absolutely pressed for a number, you can present the employer with the range you have determined beforehand. The ‘expected’ salary range you reveal will have what is really your midpoint as the minimum, with the upper bound representing your ‘dream’ salary. Always start your negotiations with a range, not a specific salary level.

3. Let the Games Begin Best case scenario: You have played your cards right and the employer extends you an offer that is at the upper bound or significantly above your expectations. Your downside risk has been eliminated and you can now focus your discussions on making a good situation even better.

Ask them “That is close to the range I had in mind. My expectations given my background and the job responsibilities were closer to (your range) with (the minimum in the range) really having been my very minimum.

How much flexibility do you have on the upside?”

Worst case scenario: You have prematurely limited your negotiating range by revealing your hand too soon and the employer counters with a lower range, or the employer starts the negotiations with an offer below your expectations. This is where your negotiating savvy really comes into play. If the employer is offering much lesser than your range, you have either misconstrued the job responsibilities or the employer is paying significantly below the market. Ask yourself ‘does the range meet your minimum threshold?’ If not then this may well be the wrong position and/or company for you!

EXCHANGE RATES Commercial Bank of Kuwait US Dollar/KD GB Pound/KD Euro Swiss francs Canadian Dollar Australian DLR Indian rupees Sri Lanka Rupee UAE dirhams Bahraini dinars Jordanian dinar Saudi riyals Omani riyals Egyptian pounds

.2740000 .4460000 .3600000 .2960000 .2840000 .2840000 .0040000 .0020000 .0760810 .7412350 .3870000 .0720000 .7264690 .0430000

CUSTOMER TRANSFER RATES US Dollar/KD .2802500 GB Pound/KD .4496050 Euro .3638070 Swiss francs .2998130 Canadian dollars .2874510 Danish Kroner .0487810 Swedish Kroner .0422890 Australian dlr .2866680 Hong Kong dlr .0361500 Singapore dlr .2281140 Japanese yen .0035750 Indian Rs/KD .0000000 Sri Lanka rupee .0000000 Pakistan rupee .0000000 Bangladesh taka .0000000 UAE dirhams .0763310 Bahraini dinars .7436650 Jordanian dinar .0000000 Saudi Riyal/KD .0747530 Omani riyals .7282060 Philippine Peso .0000000

Al-Muzaini Exchange Co. ASIAN COUNTRIES

Japanese Yen Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Srilankan Rupees Nepali Rupees Singapore Dollar Hongkong Dollar Bangladesh Taka Philippine Peso Thai Baht Malaysian Ringgit

3.605 5.321 2.950 2.194 3.341 229.950 36.397 3.439 6.784 9.181 91.682

.2860000 .4610000 .3690000 .3070000 .2940000 .2980000 .0058500 .0035000 .0768460 .7486580 .4100000 .0780000 .7339520 .0510000 .2823500 .4529740 .3665330 .3020590 .2896050 .0491460 .0426060 .2888160 .0364210 .2298240 .0036010 .0054170 .0022050 .0029670 .0034770 .0769030 .7492370 .3993640 .0753130 .7336620 .0068720

Saudi Riyal Qatari Riyal Omani Riyal Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham

GCC COUNTRIES 75.270 77.556 733.140 749.700 76.859

ARAB COUNTRIES Egyptian Pound - Cash 47.900 Egyptian Pound - Transfer 46.284 Yemen Riyal/for 1000 1.317 Tunisian Dinar 179.940 Jordanian Dinar 398.150 Lebanese Lira/for 1000 1.894 Syrian Lier 4.924 Morocco Dirham 33.391 EUROPEAN & AMERICAN COUNTRIES US Dollar Transfer 282.150 Euro 364.540 Sterling Pound 452.570 Canadian dollar 289.210 Turkish lire 154.720 Swiss Franc 300.580 US Dollar Buying 280.950 GOLD 332.000 168.000 86.000

20 Gram 10 Gram 5 Gram

Australian dollar Bahraini dinar Bangladeshi taka Canadian dollar Cyprus pound Czek koruna Danish krone Deutsche Mark Egyptian pound Euro Cash Hongkong dollar Indian rupees Indonesia Iranian tuman Iraqi dinar Japanese yen Jordanian dinar Lebanese pound Malaysian ringgit Morocco dirham Nepalese Rupees New Zealand dollar Nigeria

SELL CASH

291.700 749.950 3.700 291.700 553.800 45.900 49.600 167.800 48.030 366.800 37.070 5.540 0.032 0.161 0.246 3.700 399.630 0.191 94.670 45.200 4.340 234.000 1.827

50.300 732.500 3.100 6.990 76.000 75.290 230.690 36.410 2.686 454.900 43.000 303.200 4.200 9.530 198.263 76.890 282.400 1.360

10 Tola

GOLD 1,891.820

Sterling Pound US Dollar

732.320 2.965 6.790 77.570 75.290 230.690 36.410 2.195 452.900 301.700 4.200 9.370 76.790 282.000

COUNTRY

SELL DRAFT

290.200 749.950 3.441 290.200

230.700 46.292 365.300 36.920 5.335 0.031

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swiss Franc Euro US Dollar Sterling Pound Japanese Yen Bangladesh Taka Indian Rupee Sri Lankan Rupee Nepali Rupee Pakistani Rupee UAE Dirhams Bahraini Dinar Egyptian Pound Jordanian Dinar Omani Riyal Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal

TRAVELLER’S CHEQUE 452.900 282.000

SELL DRAFT

292.91 292.59 304.22 366.01 281.55 454.56 3.68 3.457 5.308 2.195 3.327 2.957 76.72 749.67 46.29 401.12 732.76 77.75 75.29

SELL CASH

294.000 290.500 304.000 364.500 282.450 453.800 3.690 3.600 5.500 2.320 3.600 3.150 77.350 749.500 47.800 399.000 735.000 78.000 75.750

Dollarco Exchange Co. Ltd 399.590 0.190 94.670 3.350 232.500

Rate for Transfer

US Dollar Canadian Dollar Sterling Pound Euro

Selling Rate

281.900 288.495 451.740 363.585

Swiss Frank Bahrain Dinar UAE Dirhams Qatari Riyals Saudi Riyals Jordanian Dinar Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupees Indian Rupees Pakistani Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Pesso Cyprus pound Japanese Yen Thai Bhat Syrian Pound Nepalese Rupees Malaysian Ringgit

299.600 746.325 76.730 77.380 75.135 397.380 46.230 2.191 5.334 2.948 3.445 6.780 691.503 4.592 9.260 4.375 3.425 91.525

Kuwait Bahrain Intl Exchange Co.

UAE Exchange Centre WLL

Bahrain Exchange Company COUNTRY

Norwegian krone Omani Riyal Pakistani rupees Philippine peso Qatari riyal Saudi riyal Singapore dollar South Africa Sri Lankan rupees Sterling pound Swedish krona Swiss franc Syrian pound Thai bhat Tunisian dollar UAE dirham U.S. dollars Yemeni Riyal

Currency

Rate per 1000 (Tran)

US Dollar Pak Rupees Indian Rupees Sri Lankan Rupees Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso UAE Dirhams Saudi Riyals Bahraini Dinars Egyptian Pounds Pound Sterling Indonesian Rupiah Yemeni Riyal Euro Canadian Dollars Nepali rupee

281.900 2.950 5.321 2.200 3.450 6.830 76.855 75.330 749.400 46.284 456.300 2.990 1.550 368.200 293.900 3.395

Al Mulla Exchange Currency

US Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Canadian Dollar Japanese Yen Indian Rupee Egyptian Pound Sri Lankan Rupee Bangladesh Taka Philippines Peso Pakistan Rupee Bahraini Dinar UAE Dirham Saudi Riyal

Transfer Rate (Per 1000)

*Rates are subject to change

281.500 368.000 454.850 289.900 3.645 5.348 46.173 2.191 3.447 6.785 2.953 749.600 76.700 75.150

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

BUSINESS

Kuwait budget surplus could hit KD 11bn Crude prices drop against backdrop of looser market fundamentals

NBK OIL MARKET REPORT KUWAIT: Crude oil prices fell in midSeptember on the prospect of the release of government strategic oil reserves. Given the weak global backdrop, however, crude prices remain surprisingly resilient overall.

Oil market fundamentals may loosen over coming quarters, as demand growth remains sluggish and supply recovers. If so, this could set the stage for cuts in OPEC output next year.

Under our scenarios, oil prices average between $98 and $104 pb in FY12/13. This would generate a budget balance for Kuwait of between KD 8 and 11bn this year.

Crude oil prices dropped back in September, erasing some of the gains made through August. The price of Kuwait Export Crude (KEC) averaged $107 per barrel (pb) in the first week of October, having fallen sharply by $10 to $104 in mid-September.

These are broadly the price levels that prevailed for much of last year. Other global benchmark crude prices also fell sharply mid-month. Brent crude fell by $9 to $108 within three days, before settling at $112, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) - the main US crude - fell $7 to $92. Interestingly, WTI has failed to see a partial recovery (and has in fact continued to edge lower), undermined by rising production of US shale oil and refinery outages.

Much of September’s fall in crude prices took place within minutes on a single day, generating confusion about the underlying cause. Market authorities ruled out a technical glitch, after which prices would have quickly rebounded. Some observers argued that the decline should be seen against a backdrop of rising expectations of a release of government strategic oil reserves, which has put traders on edge. In addition, key OPEC member Saudi Arabia publically reiterated its commitment to see oil prices back at $100. Most analysts already expect oil market fundamentals to weaken in 4Q 2012 as a result of fewer non-OPEC supply disruptions and increases in North American output.

Despite these negative pressures, crude prices overall remain reasonably resilient, especially in light of concerns over the prospects for the global economy. Looser market fundamentals will be used to replenish stocks that have been depleted in previous years and need not have a major impact on prices. Meanwhile, geopolitical risks continue to add a premium on crude prices.

These risks include the spreading of the current conflict in Syria to other parts of the Middle East region, and the potential for a military confrontation between Israel and Iran.

Oil demand outlook There have been few major revisions to analysts’ forecasts for global oil demand growth over the past month, with economic weakness already factored in. Oil demand growth is expected to remain slightly below trend in 2013 at 0.8 - 0.9 million barrels per day (mbpd), or 0.9 - 1.0% - following similar growth in 2012. Sluggish economic activity (especially in developed economies), high oil prices and the impact of energy efficiency measures are seen continuing to weigh on demand. The International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that Chinese oil demand growth will remain below 3% next year as the economy slows. This compares to the double digit rates seen between 2002 and

2006 and parts of 2010 and 2011. But emerging markets in general will remain the engine of oil demand growth. Demand in OECD countries is expected to fall by 0.2 0.3 mbpd in 2013, its ninth fall of the past 11 years.

Oil supply outlook Crude output of the OPEC-11 (i.e. excluding Iraq) rebounded by a significant 235,000 bpd in August to 28.3 mbpd, after three consecutive months of declines. West African producers, Angola and Nigeria, posted the largest gains of the month at 193,000

bpd and 49,000 bpd respectively, as a result of the completion of maintenance work on Angolan oil fields and the lifting of ‘force majeure’ on Nigerian crude exports. Libyan output also recovered from disruptions in early July; official sources put August production figures at near pre-war levels of 1.6 mbpd. The restarting of the Ras Lanuf refinery on August 31 will help ease pressure on the limited storage capacity at the key Ras Lanuf export terminal. This should alleviate an important infrastructure bottleneck to sustainable production increases in coming months. Meanwhile, Iranian output continued its 11-month decline to under 2.8 mbpd, dropping below Iraqi and Kuwaiti production levels.

Total OPEC production (including Iraq) rose 254,000 bpd to 31.4 mbpd in August, the second highest monthly production since July 2008. Iraqi oil production recorded its second successive post-1990 record in August, at 3.1 mbpd. This came following

the start of Kurdish oil contributions (100,000 bpd) to Iraqi exports on August 1.

Further increases in production will be heavily constrained by storage and pipeline infrastructure bottlenecks.

Non-OPEC supplies are now projected to increase by around 0.6 mbpd in 2012, with OPEC natural gas liquids (NGLs) contributing to about two-thirds of this increase.

Non-OPEC supplies have been hurt this year due to various supply disruptions including hurricane Isaac in the USA, strike-related North Sea outages, and unrest in Sudan, Yemen and Syria. Next year, rising North

American production should help supplies recover. In total, if OPEC-12 output remains at its current level, global oil supplies could rise by some 2 mbpd in 2012.

Price projections After picking-up strength in 3Q12, oil market fundamentals are expected to loosen this quarter on the back of rising OECD oil production and moderate demand growth. Although not guaranteed, this could push prices lower. Assuming a 0.7 mbpd (0.8%) increase in demand in 2012 and an increase in OPEC output of 1.6 mbpd for 2012 as a whole, then supply should exceed demand this year, resulting in a stock build of 0.9 mbpd. KEC prices would fall below $100 pb by year-end.

If, on the other hand, non-OPEC supplies turn out 0.3 mbpd higher than expected next year - partly as a result of the continued surge in North American production - then prices could be set on a steeper downward path. In this scenario, the price of KEC falls below $90 pb early next year, and further thereafter. This would almost certainly prompt OPEC member countries to make production cuts to prevent prices from declining further.

Alternatively, global demand growth could turn out stronger than expected, possibly as a result of policy stimulus measures in the US and China. In this case, the price of KEC remains supported at above $100 pb for the remainder of this year and into 2013.

Budget projections The three oil price scenarios described above would generate average oil prices of between $98 and $104 pb for FY2012/13.

According to press reports, the government’s budget has just been approved, with spending set at KD 21.2 billion - a rise of 9% on the budget for last year. If as we expect, spending comes in at 5-10% below the government’s forecast, the budget could see a surplus of between KD 7.8 billion and KD 11.4 billion before allocations to the Reserve Fund for Future Generations (RFFG). This would equate to a surplus in the range of 16-23% of GDP. Note that last month the government approved the raising of allocations to the RFFG from 10% to 25% of total revenues, to be implemented this fiscal year.

Although this does nothing to alter the strength of the underlying fiscal position, it could imply transfers to the RFFG of a record KD 7bn this year.

LUSAKA, Zambia: A kid identifies his toy from the rubble in the Chinika township on Oct 10, 2012. Hundreds of Zambians faced a night on the streets, after the authorities cleared their homes to make way for a milling company. — AFP

Clearing Zambia land for business leaves hundreds homeless LUSAKA: Hundreds of Zambians have been made homeless after their Lusaka slum was cleared to make way for a maize mill, highlighting the country’s struggle to balance economic growth with rights for the poor. Fuelled by Africa’s largest deposits of copper, Zambia’s economy is expected to grow at a tidy clip of seven percent this year.

But an economic boom creates winners and losers. The inhabitants of the 100 homes in Chinika township became losers when the court ordered their homes to be razed to make way for a food processing company’s maize mill.

“This house was built by my husband who died 10 years ago,” 58-year-old mother of eight Sara Mwale said, fighting back tears.

Her house, a three-roomed building without electricity and running water, has now been destroyed along with merchandise that would have been sold to keep the family in food. Like many others in the settlement, the family depends on hawking goods on Lusaka’s streets to make ends meet. Now Mwale and her 27-year-old son Lazarus are camped out at the site, standing guard over what few household goods survived amid the debris of CDs, men’s belts and other merchandise.

“This is not what I voted for, we were promised more money and proper accommodation but now people come as early as 02:00 hours in the morning and start demolishing houses while are still asleep,” said Lazarus. “This is not right and President (Michael) Sata should do something about this.” During the last election campaign, Sata had appealed to

Zambians’ desire for improved wealth and better housing. Now some residents are considering legal action against the authorities they once backed. “We are putting up money so that we can engage a lawyer but for the time being, we are going to build our structures using plastics,” he told AFP. Other residents, however, are throwing in the towel. Joe Bwalya, who is single and makes a living with carpentry, said he would now have to move to his parents’ home in Kanyama, another Lusaka slum. Bwalya said he could not keep sleeping out in the chilly open air. “I can’t continue staying like this, I have to go back to Kanyama and stay with my father.

All I will need are my equipment and I will be able to start another life,” the 21-yearold said.

Local government minister Emmerine Kabanshi said that as much as her government promised Zambians decent accommodation, they could not allow lawlessness. “We want order in the townships and we can’t allow people to be building anywhere. What kind of a country are we going to have if people even build on sewer lines?” According to Henry Machina, executive director of the Zambia Land Alliance, this is far from an isolated incident, and it is one that is likely to be repeated without legal changes.

“This country does not have a real land policy,” he said. “We have had this problem for many years and we believed that it would sort itself out, but this is not the case.” “If we have a land policy, it would tell us how land will be administered, we should be able to know who will give out land and who should buy. —AFP

24

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

business

Palestinian workers wait to cross to Israel at the Qalandia checkpoint, between Ramallah and Jerusalem. In response to an economic crisis gripping the West Bank, Israel has suddenly increased the number of permits for Palestinians to work inside Israel. — AP

Palestinians seek work in Israel as crisis deepens West Bank office an unlikely source of hope for employment BEIT EL, West Bank: For Palestinians, the Israeli military coordination office on the outskirts of Jerusalem is a symbol of Israel’s decades-long control over their lives. Now it has also become an unlikely source of hope for employment.

In response to an economic crisis gripping the West Bank, Israel has increased the number of permits for Palestinians to work in Israel. This has drawn large crowds of desperate men to the gray edifice each morning in chaotic scenes of long lines, frustrated faces and heated arguments as they try to secure a coveted permit.

At a time of double-digit unemployment in the West Bank, Palestinian workers, particularly people working in manual jobs like furniture moving, gardening and maintenance work, have few other options. “It’s a dream to get a permit and work in Israel,” said Kayed Ashkar, 45, who is unemployed and a frequent visitor to the Israeli Civil Administration office. “I used to work there. I used to earn enough money for my family,” said the former waiter, whose wife’s modest salary in a local wedding hall supports their five children.

Israeli authorities have granted an additional 10,000 permits this year to work in Israel, raising the total number to 40,000. It’s still well below the peak level of 200,000 in the 1990s, but the most since a violent Palestinian uprising erupted in late 2000. The uprising was characterized by suicide bombings and other attacks carried out by West Bank Palestinians, prompting Israel to revoke most permits.

An additional 25,000 Palestinians work in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, underscoring their dependence on the Israeli economy. The Palestinians as a rule harshly oppose the existence of the settlements on land they claim for their state.

UN figures say unemployment in the West Bank is 17 percent, a figure that may well under-represent the severity of the crisis, given the large numbers of underemployed in the West Bank. The tough times have fueled an angry mood among Palestinians. Last month, in a rare move, thousands demonstrated against Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, blaming the US-educated economist for their deepening impoverishment.

The Western-backed Palestinian Authority, the local autonomy government, has paid only partial salaries to its 114,000 civil servants in the West

Bank, about 15 percent of the local work force, over the past few months because of a shortfall in its $4 billion budget.

The public sector is by far the biggest employer in the West Bank, forming the backbone of the Palestinian economy, so the government’s inability to pay has rippled throughout the economy.

October’s salaries haven’t arrived yet, and the government has further angered Palestinians by announcing plans to fix the minimum wage at $345 a month, below the local poverty line. Also, taxes and prices for basic goods have risen.

The crisis has several causes. The Palestinian Authority is heavily dependent on foreign donors, and key backers, including the US and Arab countries, haven’t delivered promised aid.

Adding to the challenger, Israel continues to control 60 percent of the West Bank, constraining Palestinian growth and development. Israeli security policies also limit Palestinians’ ability to import and export. Israel has taken steps, such as removing military checkpoints, to ease movement in and out of the territory, but the World Bank and others say it must do more. On the Palestinian side,

attempts by Fayyad to increase taxes have been met with fierce resistance.

In a report to donors last month, the World Bank appeals to them to urgently prop up the Palestinian government. “But even with this financial support, sustainable economic growth cannot be achieved without a removal of the barriers preventing private sector development,” it warned.

It’s a far cry from Fayyad’s grand vision, unveiled in 2009, that aimed to end Palestinian dependency on Israel and lay the foundation for independence.

Fayyad, a former International Monetary Fund official, promised new roads, schools, an airport and other development projects. The money would come from donors and increasing tax revenues.

The goal was to generate employment in the West Bank, the heartland of a future Palestinian state, ending the need for laborers to find work in Israel.

To stop Palestinians from inadvertently supporting Israel’s Jewish settlement enterprise, his government banned the sale of items produced

Palestinian workers wait to cross to Israel at the Qalandia checkpoint, between Ramallah and Jerusalem. — AP

there. He also tried to halt Palestinian laborers working in Jewish settlements, especially construction jobs building new homes. Palestinians say the settlements are preventing them from building their state by cutting up the West Bank.

Despite Fayyad’s best intentions, investors shied away, deterred by a deadlocked peace process, a global economic slowdown and regionwide turmoil. Alternative efforts by Palestinian leaders to unilaterally carve out independence through international recognition are making little progress.

Yet Israel has a strong interest in keeping Fayyad’s government afloat. The Palestinian Authority’s collapse would wreak chaos on Israel’s doorstep and endanger key security cooperation that has helped maintain years of relative calm.

In a separate report to donors last month, Israeli officials boasted of a series of measures it was taking to bolster the Palestinian economy, including increasing work permits. Israelis and Palestinians remain bound together, though their stated goals are separate states. “ There’s no way for us to disconnect the Palestinian economy from Israel’s, before it ends its occupation,” said Palestinian Labor Minister Ahmed Majdalani. On a recent day, some 200 Palestinians gathered outside the military building to apply for permits, clutching applications in plastic envelopes, waiting for an unseen soldier to open a gate to usher them in.

Eligible Palestinians -those who do not have a record of activity against Israel - peaceful or violent - receive a magnetic card allowing them to enter Israel. They find jobs through friends or contacts on the Israeli side. Emad Misbah is one of the lucky ones. He has a special permit that allows him to stay overnight in Israel during the week, avoiding the lengthy daily commute that most face while waiting to cross checkpoints.

The 49-year-old gravedigger works 10 hours a day, and sleeps in a trailer in the cemetery. He goes home once a week. It isn’t easy for the father of eight, but he earns $1,500 a month in the central Israeli city of Petah Tikva. It’s more than double what Palestinians make for the same work in the West Bank. He’s waiting for his children to graduate from university before quitting.

“Then I’ll open a small business in my village and rest,” he said. —AP

China trade bounces, recovery traction eyed BEIJING: China’s exports grew at roughly twice the rate expected in September while imports returned to the path of expansion, suggesting government measures to underpin economic growth are working and additional policy action may not be needed for now.

Customs data showed exports in September grew 9.9 percent from a year earlier, roughly twice the 5.0 percent rate expected by investors and up sharply from the 2.7 percent annual rise recorded in August. Imports rose 2.4 percent year-onyear in September, in line with findings in the benchmark Reuters poll that had forecast a recovery from August’s surprise 2.6 percent annual decline.

The trade surplus was $27.7 billion in September, compared with a forecast of $20.7 billion and August’s $26.7 billion.

“The export data is much stronger than expected, signalling that overseas markets have recovered,” Xiao Bo, economist at Huarong Securities in Beijing told Reuters.

Xiao said a trade recovery implied a slide in China’s economic growth is likely to have been arrested, boding well for a recovery to take hold in the fourth quarter to brighten the jobs outlook - a key factor for Beijing as a November leadership transition for the ruling Communist Party looms.

“With the recovery in the export growth, we think Beijing will not cut RRR or interest rates further in the coming months as policymakers tend to keep policy stable when China heads towards a once-a-decade leadership change,” Xiao said. China has cut required reserve ratios for commercial banks by 150 basis points since November last year, freeing an estimated 1.2 trillion yuan ($190 billion) for lending, and cut interest rates in June and July to help underpin growth.

The outlook for China’s trade remains tough as the debt crisis festers in the European Union - the single biggest overseas market for Chinese goods - and a slower-than-expected recovery in the US

economy weigh on exports. Exports to the EU fell 10.7 percent year-on-year in September, the fourth straight month of decline, the third double-digit drop in a row and the seventh month of contraction so far this year. Exports to the EU this time a year ago were up 9.8 percent.

Sales to the U.S. showed a mild improvement, up 5.5 percent year-on-year in September from August’s 3.0 percent gain, though still less than half the 11.6 percent annual growth seen in September 2011. A notable bright spot were exports to neighboring emerging market economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which jumped 25.5 percent yearon-year in September versus August’s 10.3 percent to $18.3 billion.

Imports from Taiwan surged 19.9 percent and from South Korea grew 9.0 per-

cent on a year earlier - key indicators of potential improvement in forward order books for many Chinese exporters which need products from both markets to keep assembly lines humming along fulfilling orders for foreign buyers.

There was no clear evidence that a territorial dispute with Japan, that grew increasingly bitter in September, had yet hit overall trade between the two nations.

Imports from Japan were down 9.6 percent year-on-year in September, though August’s rate of decline was heftier at 11.4 percent. Exports meanwhile rose at an annual rate of 2.2 percent against August’s 6.7 percent decline. The clearest sign of the uneven improvement in the trade picture came from China’s key raw materials suppliers, Australia and Brazil, where imports fell 22.6 percent and 14.2 percent, respec-

SHANDONG: Harvested corn dries on the ground as a girl runs past in a village near Gaomi, in eastern China’s Shandong province yesterday. China is the world’s second-biggest corn producer, with output set to increase 3.7 percent this year from 2011, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).—AFP

tively, year-on-year in September, with overall commodity demand remaining weak despite the import bounce.

China’s total trade growth in the first nine months of the year meanwhile was just 6.2 percent - way behind the official 10 percent target for the year. Officials say external demand may even weaken in the months ahead. China’s exports generated 31 percent of gross domestic product in 2011, according to World Bank data, and supported an estimated 200 million jobs.

Analysts polled by Reuters expect the economy to have its weakest year of expansion since 1999. China is due to publish economic data for the third quarter on Oct. 18 and analysts expect it to confirm GDP growth slowed for a seventh successive quarter, slipping to 7.4 percent year on year - the lowest level since Q1 2009 as the global financial crisis raged and world trade ground to a halt.

To cushion headwinds from external risks, Beijing has rolled out an array of measures to help relieve the burden on exporters, such as quickening tax rebate payments, cutting red tape and loosening access to bank loans.

The Finance Ministry said last month it would suspend inspection and quarantine fees for all goods coming in and out of China for the rest of this year to shield exporters and importers from the global economic downturn. On the domestic front, the government in September gave the go-ahead to infrastructure projects worth around $157 billion. “Beijing’s recent measures to support trade growth, such as a faster pace of tax rebate payments and easier access to bank loans, are starting to bite,” Xue Hexiang, analyst at Guotai Junan Securities in Shanghai, said. “I think that the trade performance may continue to improve in the coming months, as business confidence recovers. We expect that full year export growth may reach 8 percent, while imports grow about 6-7 percent,” Xue said. — Reuters

Britain’s Osborne insists Germany vetoed BAE deal LONDON: Britain’s finance minister George Osborne insists Germany vetoed a merger bid by British arms maker BAE Systems and European aerospace giant EADS, British newspapers reported yesterday.

Although observers agree Germany this week torpedoed talks to create the world’s biggest aerospace and defence group, the comments by Chancellor of the Exchequer Osborne were the strongest yet by a British minister on the matter.

They also contrast with comments by Germany’s economy minister Philipp Roesler, who rejected accusations that Germany should be blamed for the botched tie-up attempt.

“We have been a bit disappointed, primarily by Germany’s attitude, which in effect vetoed the deal,” Osborne was quoted as saying in British newspapers after briefing reporters on the sidelines of an IMF meeting taking place in Tokyo. “I would like to have seen if we could have progressed those talks, even if that still meant the deal did not go ahead,” Osborne said, according to The Times.

“It is not that we (Britain) were committed to the deal-we just thought it worth discussing.” The $45-billion (34.7-billion-euro) merger plan collapsed on Wednesday, leading the chief executive of EADS, Tom Enders, to express surprise at the level of resistance in Germany to the tie-up.

Analysts said Germany feared being sidelined after any such deal and was worried that jobs and factories could go with only one year until a general election in Europe’s top economy.

The merger talks had been reliant on agreement between the British, French and German governments. EADS is dominated by key stakeholders France and Germany, while Britain has a “golden share” in BAE that allowed it to block the tie-up. The two companies had hoped to create a global champion in the fields of civil and defense aviation, that would compete more effectively with fierce US rival Boeing at a time of deep government cuts to defense spending. — AFP

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

BUSINESS

Arabal 2012 hosts global aluminium leaders in Doha More than 40 speakers confirmed DOHA: The Organizing committee of the Arab International Aluminium Conference (ARABAL 2012), which will be held in Doha from the 20th to the 22nd of November 2012, have announced that more than 40 speakers, including world-renowned industry leaders, have confirmed their participation in the event. The speakers will present papers and workshops that address various sector related aspects and cover the latest developments and changes in the industry.

Keynote speeches will be delivered during the opening session, and will begin with the welcome speech by Mohammad Ali Al-Naki, Founder and Chairman of Arabal, in which he will present the history of Arabal since its inception in 1983.

Al-Naki is a leading industrialist with a proven

track record of achievements in GCC and Kuwaiti industrial sector. He has held a number of senior positions and founded several firms including Kuwait Aluminum Company, United Glass Company and Kuwait Industries Company. He has held senior positions in a number of companies including Al Safat Investment Company, Al Madina Financial and Investment Company, Al Madina Real Estate Company and Alujain Corporation.

Dr Mohammed Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, will deliver the opening speech in which he will highlight Qatar’s industrial achievements and the growing importance of aluminium industry in the region, in general, and in Qatar in particular.

Svein Richard, CEO of Norwegian Norsk Hydro, will give a speech in the opening session, in which

he will present the experience of Norsk Hydro and its partner Qatar Petroleum in setting up and operating Qatalum. This will be followed by a speech by Abdulrahman Al Shaibi,Qatalum’s chairman who will present Qatalum’s achievements in the last few years and will highlight the importance of aluminium related manufacturing industries and the future prospects of these industries.

The preparation committee added that the opening session will feature a discussion panel titled “The Prospects of Aluminium Industry in the GCC Region in the Light of Rapid Regional and International Changes and Future Plans” that will be attended by CEOs of all of the aluminium smelters which are members of Arabal. The discussion will be moderated by Khalid Mohammed Laram, Deputy

CEO of Qatalum. The panel will address a number of important topics of common interest.

The opening day of Arabal 2012 will be preceded by a workshop on the London Metal Exchange (LME) chaired by Martin Abbott, CEO of LME who will highlight the mechanisms and techniques used in the LME. He will give his review on market reality and will present market analysis from a historical point of view as well as future prospects. A field visit to the Qatalum smelter in Mesaieed Industrial City will be organized to view the method of work adopted in the smelter.

All speakers at the Arabal Conference will be announced successively in the press releases published by the preparation committee and on the conference’s official website atwww.arabal.com.

US deficit tops $1tn for 4th year in a row Tax revenue rose marginally

SHANDONG: A woman and child wait to board a train in Weifang, in eastern China’s Shandong province yesterday. Chinese bank lending tumbled in September, official figures showed, following a surge in the previous month on government efforts to bolster the slumping economy. — AFP

Bad week for US stocks as earnings season opens NEW YORK: Powered by extra-cheap money and rising company profits for months, US investors turned cool this week as the third quarter earnings season opened amid glum analyst predictions.

The markets closed their worst week in four months on Friday, the major indices each losing more than two percent. Big blue chips fell along with smaller companies, underscoring the worries that the earnings recovery of the past 18 months has petered out.

Tech favorites Apple (-3.5 percent) and Google (-3.0 percent) fell well below their yearly highs reached only weeks ago, and newcomer Facebook followed suit (-6.7 percent). The blue chips of the Dow also fell under the gloom, with Alcoa, which kicked off quarterly earnings reporting on Tuesday, losing 4.4 percent for the week on its lowered forecast.

For the week the broad-based S&P 500 lost 2.21 percent to 1,428.59. The narrower blue chip list, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, was down 2.07 percent to 13,328.85, and the Nasdaq Composite, led by tech stocks, fell 2.94 percent. “Major equity indices slid for most of the week as market sentiment faced headwinds from several corners,” said Paul Edelstein at IHS Global Insight.

“Investors held their fire in anticipation of a weak third quarter corporate earnings season. Meanwhile, a downgrade by the International Monetary Fund to its global growth projections heightened global recession fears.” Jody Giraldo, vice president of Equity Station, blamed “expectations that numbers are going to come lower than

expected, specifically as the worldwide economy slows down.”

“It’s a real disappointment in the way technology is performing, which has been taken down hard over the last couple of weeks,” she said. “It looks like some people are positioning for disappointment.”

Economic data, mixed during the week, was also not taken favorably by investors, said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer at Harris Private Bank. He pointed to the International Monetary Fund’s downgrade of its global growth forecast and its warning over the euro-zone situation.

“It appears that a lot of the fundamentals that investors watch were really weak. The economic data and earnings reports really prompted a little investor concern.”

That all explained why the markets greeted JPMorgan Chase’s and Wells Fargo’s positive results Friday with selling, pushing other financials down as well. Economic data and euro-zone action next week will combine with results from scores of companies to test investors’ moods.

Spain’s growing crisis has many hoping it will accept an EU bailout rather than see its financial and political situation erode.

In US data reports, Monday will see September retail sales; Tuesday’s focus will be on consumer prices and industrial production, followed by housing starts on Wednesday and existing home sales on Friday. “September was likely a flat month for existing home sales, but we expect builders to have stepped up the pace of housing starts,” said Edelstein. — AFP

LEESBURG: Anthony Cavallo, owner of the restaurant Vintage 50, poses for a portrait in the microbrewery of his restaurant in Leesburg, Virginia. As a small businessman, he doesn’t relate to President Barack Obama or Mitt Romney. — AP

EU banking reforms to take ‘year or so’: ECB chief TOKYO: European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi said yesterday reforms to the way European Union banks are supervised would probably not be implemented for another “year or so”. Political leaders have been working towards agreement on a single European banking supervisory body by the start of next year, but Draghi said it would not be operational on January 1st.

“It’s very important that we have these institutional steps done by January 1 so that we can prepare ourselves to run the supervision and make it operational. “But this may well take another year or so. We think by

January 2014, the new framework will be in place and operational.”

Draghi was speaking to reporters in Tokyo on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund’s annual meeting. His comments come days after he said a planned single European bank supervisory authority-which will be located within the ECBshould be up and running as early as possible. Speak ing to a hearing of the European Parliament’s committee for economic and monetary affairs in Brussels, he said “phasing-in time” would be around one year.—AFP

WASHINGTON: The US budget deficit topped $1 trillion for a fourth consecutive year, but a modest improvement in economic growth helped narrow the gap by $207 billion compared with last year.

The Treasury Department said the deficit for the 2012 budget year totaled $1.1 trillion. Tax revenue rose 6.4 percent from last year to more than $2.4 trillion, helping contain the deficit.

The government’s revenue rose as more people got jobs and received income. Corporations also contributed more tax revenue than in 2011.

Government spending fell 1.7 percent to $3.5 trillion. The decline reflected, in part, less defense spending as US military involvement in Iraq was winding down.

Barack Obama’s presidency has now coincided with four straight $1 trillion-plus annual budget deficits - the first in history and an issue in an election campaign that ends in Nov 6.

Obama’s Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, contends that Obama failed to achieve a pledge to halve the deficit he inherited by the end of his first term. When Obama took office in January 2009, the Congressional Budget Office forecast that the deficit for that year would total $1.2 trillion. It ended up at a record $1.41 trillion.

The increase was due, in part, to higher government spending to fight the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan contributed to the deficits. The budget gaps in 2010 and 2011 were slightly lower than the 2009 deficit as a gradually strengthening economy generated more tax revenue. But the deficits still exceeded $1 trillion.

Obama is campaigning for a second term with a pledge to cut deficits by $4 trillion over the next decade. He says he would do so by ending the Bush-era income tax cuts for higher-income Americans and by restraining the growth of spending. Romney has said he would cut spending growth to help narrow the budget gap. He would cap spending at 20 percent of the economy by 2016. Spending in 2012 accounted for

VIRGINIA BEACH: President Barack Obama stops for a photo with members of the Vox Harmonia Visual and Performing Arts Academy Salem High School at a campaign event at Farm Bureau Live in Virginia Beach. — AP about 23 percent of the economy.

The government borrowed about 31 cents of every dollar it spent in 2012. The string of $1 trillion-plus deficits has driven the national debt above $16 trillion. The magnitude of that figure has intensified debate in Congress over spending and taxes but little movement toward compromise.

Many fear the budget deadlock will send the economy over a “fiscal cliff” next year, when tax

AngloAmerican platinum loses $126m over strikes JOHANNESBURG: The world’s top platinum producer Anglo American on Friday announced $126 million in lost revenue due to a month-long illegal strike, as ratings agency S&P downgraded South Africa over the mining unrest.

Anglo American also declared a force majeure in its chrome deliveries as a result of the wildcat strike by thousands of its workers. The strike “will adversely affect the company’s delivery obligations regarding the supply of chrome ore and as a result force majeure notices have been issued to its chrome customers”, the company said in a statement.

Its ability to deliver other metals including platinum and paladium “remains unaffected at this stage”.

The group has over the past four weeks lost 67,000 ounces in production of platinum, the equivalent of around 1.1 billion rands ($126 million, 97 million euro) in revenues.

Meanwhile, Standard’s and Poor’s slashed South Africa’s sovereign debt rating on Friday by one notch from BBB+ to BBB, citing the strikes affecting Anglo American and other mining companies.

The rating is a notch lower than that recently assigned to the country by both Moody’s. “In our view, the strikes in South Africa’s mining sector will likely feed into the political debate in the run-up to the 2014 elections, which may increase uncertainties related to the African National Congress’ future policy framework,” the agency said, following in the tracks of Moody’s, which downgraded the country last month.

“We also expect that South Africa’s underlying social tensions will increase spending pressures and reduce fiscal flexibility for the government,” it said.

Around 28,000 of Anglo American’s workers have been on a wildcat strike for four weeks at its sprawling facilities

in Rustenburg, which account for around a quarter of world platinum production.

A week ago the company sacked 12,000 of the striking miners.

Investors have warned the dismissals could deepen a crisis that has already paralysed an industry that accounts for around 20 percent of the continental powerhouse’s GDP. Work stoppages in the continent’s economic powerhouse started in August with workers downing tools at Lonmin platinum mine. Since then, more than 50 people have been killed in rolling strikes that have frequently turned violent. Presiden Jacob Zuma held talks with the main Cosatu trade union movement and business leaders on late Friday aimed at curbing the industrial actions, but these ended without concrete decisions. Razia Khan, analyst with Standard Chartered Bank agrees with S&P’s “concern that uncertainty over the likely formulation of policy alone is sufficient to act as a drag on business confidence” in Africa’s wealthiest economy.”

“With South Africa’s politics being tested in perhaps the most significant way since 1994, it is difficult to see what reassurances can be given to provide confidence with a muchneeded boost,” said Khan. Meantime at another Anglo American mine, Kumba Iron Ore, more than 100 wildcat strikers have occupied a mine dump at its operations in the Northern Cape. They have seized heavy duty mining equipment worth more than 3,3 billion rand threatening to destroy it if their pay demands are not met. The company said there is already a two-year wage agreement that was concluded two months ago with two main unions, the National Union of Mine Workers (NUM) and Solidarity and that it will not/pvh enter into any other wage talks. — AFP

increases and deep spending cuts will take effect unless a budget deal is reached.

Obama wants to eliminate the income tax cuts for families that make more than $250,000.

Republicans in Congress and Romney have resisted. They argue that with the economy still weak, the government should not be raising anyone’s taxes. Congress may address the budget crisis during a lame-duck session of Congress after the November elections. — AP

EU’s Van Rompuy details Euro-zone budget rationale BRUSSELS: EU President Herman Van Rompuy argued Friday that the 17-state euro-zone could have a central ‘Treasury’ with a shared budget and raise funds on commercial bond markets.

In a report proposing closer economic integration, drawn up for a summit of European Union leaders next week, Van Rompuy spelt out the rationale behind plans to take the eurozone potentially beyond a purely inter-governmental structure.

Van Rompuy said the hypothetical central budget for the euro-zone-home to some 340 million people as distinct from the full, 27-state EU, including non-euro economies like Britain and Poland-would need fine-tuning between now and a December summit.

Depending on how these ideas proceed, leaders may have to embark on a fresh, controversial round of EU treaty changes, with the risk that London, especially, might call a referendum to redefine its relationship with the Brussels-based bloc. “One of the functions of such a new fiscal capacity could be to facilitate adjustments to country-specific shocks by providing for some degree of absorption at the central level,” Van Rompuy wrote.

Another key aim would be to “facilitate structural reforms that improve competitiveness and potential [economic] growth.” The euro-zone this week signed into life its new financial firewall, the European Stability Mechanism, a rescue fund ultimately worth 700 billion euros ($910 billion), which Van Rompuy said was for emergencies.

Long-term, the former Belgian premier also opened a door towards pooled euro-zone government issuance of bonds, or borrowings. He said a key aspect of the centralised euro-zone budget would eventually be the capacity to borrow against it.

Overall, the idea is that national governments would strike deals with central euro-zone supervisors-legal commitments like those enacted in Greece and elsewhere that would theoretically make the euro-zone a more homogenous territory.

These could involve loss of sovereignty. According to one EU official, it’s about “convergence between national economic policies.” In the view of Brussels strategists, such a plan could help the euro-zone to “sustain assymetric shocks,” meaning dangers posed by less competitive parts than Germany.

A big question will be to what extent Berlin might compromise on over-competitiveness by comparison with Greece or Spain, for example. A debate going into the summit is whether this system-albeit on the drawing-board-would be imposed all round, or only on states that have consistently failed to balance books. — AFP

26

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

BUSINESS

Wave Muscat, Oman’s premier lifestyle destination

By Abdulatif Al-Sharaa KUWAIT: The Wave, Muscat Deputy Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Khamis Al-Shidi said, “we are here in Kuwait to promote Oman’s premier lifestyle destination to increase the number of Kuwaiti investors in the project,” adding that they are known for being good investors with long term vision.

Al-Shidi headed a delegation in Kuwait to promote the Wave, Muscat as registration began for the newest phase of development in the residential project in the heart of Muscat.

He said the project is considered one of the touristic developments in the Sultanate which is called “integrated touristic projects”, which allows free hold ownership for people other than Omanis and GCC citizens. The goal is to promote tourism in the Sultanate and investments. He said the project lies over a 6 kilometer long sea strip, which is something very difficult to find anywhere else because construction overcrowding is always found in big cities especially capitals. The back side of the project borders Muscat International airport.

Al-Shidi said the project has three five star hotels and one four stars, and the hotels are located in various parts and each has its unique features. The project has an 18 hole Golf range designed by Greg Norman and can be used to organize world events. He said there are ongoing negotiations with the European tour to bring them to Muscat. He said the project has a marina with 400 berths, the first phase has 120 that are ready and will be opened before the end of the year. He said that there are commercial outlets around the project and they are concentrated around the Marina village. The commercial outlets include restaurants, restaurants, libraries and other convenient basic services for residents. He said the commercial part of the project which is already open in 1500 meters squared. He said 10,000 meters squared will be opened in 2013.

He said the residential part includes 4000 units, 1200 of them are already sold. He said 900 units are already handed to their buyers and the number of the current residents is between 2500 to 3000.

He said we started promotion in Kuwait last year and Kuwaitis are

known for their long term vision about such projects and they have a commercial instinct and we deal with them professionally as they do with us and they now make about 3% of owners in

gave good support during the crises.

He said the economic crises affected the project for a limited time during the time when investors’ confidence was shaken but it returned back to normal

The Wave Muscat Deputy Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Khamis AlShidi addresses the meeting.

The Wave, Muscat Project. And our presence in Kuwait is to increase this percentage of Kuwaiti investors.

He said the project is a joint venture(50% government and 50% privately) owned which proved successful and

few months later. He said we did not sell anything in 2009 because we wanted to study market requirements to concentrate on particular things such as human resources, infrastructure and so on then in 2010 we went back to the

market and maybe we were the only ones in the Arabian gulf to sell in this period. He said 2011 was very good and 2012 we almost achieved our targets as far as sales are concerned.

He said 75% of buyers in The Wave, Muscat are investors and the reason is the returns for their investment which varies between 6 to 8% which is something good and encourages investors to buy. He said the investment in The Wave, Muscat is tax free not even on the increase of the capital and this encourages investors from outside the Sultanate. He said the total sales in 2011 were $100 million and we expect sales to reach 30% increase this year.

Al-Shidi said the project includes apartments, Duplexes and Villas of various sizes. And prices vary according to location, flats prices start from 150,000 Omani Riyals to 250,000 Omani Riyals, Villas prices start at 180,000 Omani Riyals up to 400,000 depending on the size, location and view, etc.

Al-Shidi reiterated that the project is a fully integrated city located in the heart of Muscat with easy access to its surroundings and avoids congestions besides being very close to the airport, and invited all to come to Muscat.

Boubyan Bank reports net profit of KD 7.6m for first 9 months of 2012 NBK’s support is a robust addition to Boubyan’s successful march KUWAIT: Boubyan Bank, the fastest growing bank in Kuwait, announced its financial results until the end of Q3 of 2012 which showed a net profit of KD 7.6 million compared to a net profit of KD 6.9 million for the same period of last year; growing by 11%.

Chairman and MD of Boubyan Bank, Adel Abdul-Wahab Al-Majed stressed that the Bank’s positive financial indicators for the first nine months of this year manifest the continuing success achieved by the Bank on all levels, especially with regard to its market share and competitiveness, both among Islamic banks in particular, and the local banking sector in general.

“Based on the indicators of the first nine months of this year, we expect that year 2012 will be another distinguished year in the Bank’s march, namely started in the second half of year 2009, when it adopted a new strategy focused on strong return to the core activities of the banking business,” added Al-Majed.

The realization of these profits comes as a product of the developments witnessed in the Bank, key among which was NBK’s entry as a major stakeholder in 2009, then the increase of its stake up to 58%, resulting in Boubyan’s joining the NBK Group, which resembles a robust addition to Boubyan’s successful march.

Al-Majed indicated that the Bank’s success in realizing many objectives set in its strategy for the period from 2010 to

2014, depending on regaining profitability by focusing on banking activities including products, services and finance solutions that cater to individual and corporate needs.

Chairman and MD of Boubyan Bank, Adel Abdul-Wahab Al-Majed He clarified that the same is proven by the rise of the Bank’s market share of finance during the period from December 2009 to August 2012 from

2.3% to 4.6% as well as the rise of its market share of deposits from 2.5% to 3.9%.

Meanwhile, he referred to the administrative changes recently witnessed in the Bank as manifested in the appointment of two young Kuwaiti experienced bankers as two Vice-CEO’s, namely Abdullah Al-Tuwaijri and Abdul-Salam AlSaleh, which will be clearly reflected on the Bank’s performance through the increased dependence on human resources, specifically the national ones, being the key driver for any success, indicating that national labor ratio reached above 64%, which is the highest among all the banking and private sectors in Kuwait.

On the other hand, Al-Majed talked about the Bank’s plans for expansion and spreading in the different areas of Kuwait, noting that next year will witness the inauguration of more branches in implementation of the Bank’s strategy to reach 30 branches at least by the end of 2014.

Positive Indicators Al-Majed highlighted some noticeable positive indicators for the Bank including the increase in net finance income to KD 38 million by the end of Q3 of 2012 compared to KD 28 million for the same period in year 2011; growing by 33% , in addition to the increase in customers’ deposits to around KD 1.3 billion compared to around KD 1.1 billion; growing by 17%.

In addition, the Bank’s total assets as by the end of September 2012 amounted to KD 1.8 billion compared to KD 1.5 billion by the end of September 2011, boosting up by 21%. The Bank’s total equity increased to KD 253 million compared to KD 244 million for the same period of last year; resulting in a Capital Adequacy Ratio of 24% against 12%, being the minimum required ratio stipulated by the Central Bank of Kuwait.

Al-Majed added that positive indicators also include a rise in financing portfolio to KD 1.2 billion by the end of September 2012 compared to KD 960 million, growing by 27%, in addition to the continuous rise in the Bank’s customer base.

Recognition Concluding his statements, Al-Majed noted the Bank’s distinguished achievements realized during the Q1 of this year represented in winning 5 regional and international awards including: Best Islamic Bank in Kuwait for Customer Service for the second year in a row from “Service Hero”, Best Islamic Bank in Elite Credit Card Services from “The Banker Middle East Magazine”, Best Islamic Bank in Kuwait from “World Finance”, Fastest Growing Bank in Kuwait from “ The Banker Middle East Magazine” and Best Islamic Bank in Kuwait from “Arabian Business”.

Electa Beroba Recede

Burgan Bank announces Value Account draw winner KUWAIT: Burgan Bank yesterday announced Electa Beroba Recede as the winner of the Burgan Value Account draw. The lucky winner took home cash prize equivalent to KD4000.

Burgan Bank’s Value Account presents a range of benefits that are unique to the Kuwaiti market. It is an account that is dedicated to expatriates and offers a credit card and an attractive range of exchange rates during remitting money back home from Al-Mezzeini Exchange Company. Also the quarterly draw entitles a lucky customer to win cash prize equivalent to KD 4000.

Burgan Bank online banking offers account holders the flexibility to transfer money, pay credit card outstanding amounts and much more. Opening a Value account is simple, just visit your nearest Burgan Bank branch and get all the details. Or simply call our Call Center 1804080 and our executive will be more than happy to assist you.

For further information visit www.burgan.com

Energy policy reform: The key to unlocking new Egypt Reform of Egypt’s bankrupt energy policy will lay the foundation for a more just society by freeing up capital for investment in health, education and job creation, says a top Egyptian business leader KUWAIT: Egyptian policymakers have a once -in-a-generation opportunity to capitalize on the nation’s newfound democracy dividend by enacting a sweeping package of meaningful reforms that will transform Egypt not just into a regional powerhouse, but a more just and comfortable society for all citizens, a top Egyptian business leader told attendees at the annual Euromoney conference in Cairo. “The future of the Egyptian economy - and, indeed, the nation - is limited today by four critical imbalances,” said Ahmed Heikal, Chairman and Founder of Citadel Capital, the leading private equity firm in the Middle East and Africa with $9.5 billion in investments under control. “ We have a stark underinvestment in health and education. Our rate of labor productivity lags significantly behind those of our primary global competitors. Our use of water per unit of GDP is far too high. And last, but certainly not least, we use far too much energy per unit of GDP. We have, in essence, mis-priced our resources through the continued extension of a system of energy subsidies that today accounts for nearly a quarter of all government spending,” Heikal said. “We have mis-priced all petroleum products - from natural gas to diesel and petrol - alongside electricity and water. We have attached far too low a value to education, leading

to a stark under-investment in our children - the workforce of tomorrow,” he noted.

The result of low energy pricing in the market is clear: Egypt’s share of total petroleum production is c. 42 million tons per annum (MTPA). At the same time, consumption stands at 80-83 MTPA today, forcing Egypt to import approximately 40 MTPA of petroleum products annually and making the energy sector to account for nearly 100% of the country’s current account deficit. “ The arbitrage opportunity between local and global prices is phenomenal,” Heikal explained.

“This is expressed in everything from illegal smuggling of products outside our nation’s borders and quite legally - by producers in energy-intensive industries who consume energy at local prices and bring to market products at international rates. Our fast-rising rate of consumption will accordingly see the energy sector’s contribution to our current account decision grow far beyond today’s $16 billion or so rate.”

A decade ago, annual price rises of as little as EGP 0.10 per unit of energy (of all types) could have averted today’s looming fiscal crisis - and resulted in Egypt’s total debt standing at exactly zero today, Heikal says. “Instead, we need today to accept a much more aggressive strategy as regards pricing. Energy prices

need to be liberalized gradually and over time lest we wish to see a spike in inflation at the same time as we face rising unemployment as a result of failing enterprises. With that in mind, we need to cushion the impact of price rises through a system of direct cash subsidies to consumers,” Heikal noted. Energy and other subsidy reforms backed by cash subsidies for consumers has proven to work

challenge, Heikal noted that the firm has invested USD 4 billion in Egypt since 25 January 2011, including the arrangement of full financing for a $3.7 billion petroleum refinery that will help reduce by 50% Egypt’s present-day diesel imports, generate more than $300 million in annual benefits to the state treasury, and reduce by nearly one-third the country’s present sulfur dioxide emissions. “Looking

Ahmed Heikal in emerging markets as diverse as Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia and Iran.

“It is clear we can no longer continue along the same path.

Egypt’s energy policy has failed, and its failure is both resulting in energy shortages - of butane, diesel, electricity and petrol - and under-investment in health, education and job creation,” Heikal said. Asked about Citadel Capital’s role in helping Egypt tackle the

ahead, we have identified a number of opportunities in the energy efficiency and energy infrastructure sphere and we are optimistic we will easily match the $4 billion figure in the coming years,” Heikal said. “The challenge is not financing - financing is available through what I call the ‘triple combo’ of Gulf-based sovereign wealth funds; Asian, American and European export credit agencies;

and development finance institutions such as the IFC, DEG, FMO, AfDB, EIB, EBRD, the Islamic Development Bank and PROPARCO, among others. This group has allowed companies such as ours to undertake large infrastructure projects such as our US$ US$ 3.7 refinery. It’s not SME investing.

“Instead, the challenge rests with our new, democratically elected government and the bureaucrats that serve this nation,” he explained. “While financing is available, the obstacle is bureaucratic inertia. It is fear. And it is easy to see why: It is not reasonable to expect a government official who spends his morning under investigation for a completely legitimate decision he made yesterday to turn around and sign paperwork for a new project this afternoon. Our government has inherited a significant challenge on the decisionmaking front, and the resolution of this quandary by protecting honest people who make legitimate decisions must be their top priority today.”

“Egypt does not want for resources, and our national character favors fairness and an entrepreneurial spirit. We have been held back for generations not for lack of solutions, but for a lack of the willingness to make their implementation a national project that is supported by the majority of our citizens,” Heikal concluded.

Haneen Al-Ghanim- Manager, Consumer Banking at Gulf Bank congratulating Eman Jaber Al-Otaibi - one of Al-Danah’s weekly winners.

Gulf Bank announces winners of 4oth Al-Danah draw for 2012 KUWAIT: Gulf Bank held its fortieth Al-Danah weekly draw on October 7th, 2012, announcing a total number of ten Al-Danah weekly prize draw winners, each awarded with prizes of KD 1,000.

The 40th Al-Danah Weekly Winners are: Sulaiman Thunaian Al-Ghanim, Nabil Gholoum, Eman Jaber Nayef Al-Otaibi, Essa Ismaeel Mohammad Ismaeel, Samina Javid Dalvi, Samira Hussein Hajjieh Abideen, Mohammed Kamal Ahmed Kamal, Ahlam Sayed Hussain Sayed Mahdi, Mohammed Kamal Abou Setta Ahmed, Hussain Saaduddin Fahmi Ahmad.

Gulf Bank encourages everyone in Kuwait to open an Al Danah account and/or increase their deposits to maximize their chances of becoming a winner in the upcoming weekly (KD1000 each for 10 winners) and 1 Million Dinar draw. Gulf Bank’s Al Danah allows customers to win cash prizes and encourages them to save money. Chances increase the more money is deposited and the longer it is kept in the account.

Al Danah also offers a number of unique services including the Al Danah Deposit Only ATM card which helps account holders deposit their money at their convenience; as well as the Al Danah calculator to help customers calculate their chances of becoming an Al Danah winner.

To be part of the Al Danah draws, customers can visit one of Gulf Bank’s 56 branches, transfer on line, or call the Customer Contact Center on 1805805 for assistance and guidance. Customers can also log on to www.egulfbank.com, Gulf Bank’s website, to find all the information regarding Al Danah or any of the Bank’s products and services or log on www.e-gulfbank.com/aldanahwinners, to find out more about Al Danah and who the winners are.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

LOS ANGELS: The space shuttle Endeavour is transported to The Forum arena for a stopover and celebration on its way to the California Science Center from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on day two yesterday in Inglewood, California.— AFP

INGLEWOOD: Spectators take pictures as the space shuttle Endeavour is pulled by a Toyota Tundra pickup truck on its way across the 405 freeway in Inglewood, California. — AP

Endeavour makes terrestrial journey Shuttle passes obstacle, heads toward LA museum LOS ANGELES: It’s a surreal sight residents won’t soon forget: A hulking space shuttle strutting down city streets, pausing every so often to get its bearings as it creeps toward retirement. The Endeavour’s terrestrial journey began before dawn Friday when it departed from the Los Angeles International Airport, rolling on a 160-wheeled carrier past diamond-shaped “Shuttle Xing” signs.

Hundreds of camera-toting spectators gaped as the 170,000-pound (77,000-kilogram) Endeavour inched by with its tail towering over streetlights and its wings spanning the roadway.

Over two days, it will trundle 12 miles (19 kilometers) at a top speed of 2 mph (3 kph) to its final destination - the California Science Center where it will be the centerpiece of a new exhibit.

Janet Dion, a family therapist from nearby Manhattan Beach, marveled at the shuttle, its exterior weathered by millions of miles in space and two dozen re-entries. “You can sense the magnitude of where it’s been,” Dion says. The baby of the shuttle fleet, Endeavour replaced Challenger, which exploded during liftoff in 1986, killing seven astronauts. It thundered off the launch pad 25 times, orbited Earth nearly 4,700 times and racked up 123 million miles (198 million kilometers).

Endeavour’s final mission began when it departed from the Los Angeles International Airport before dawn Friday, rolling on a 160-wheeled carrier past diamond-shaped “Shuttle Xing” signs.

Friday evening it stopped as crews spent hours transferring the shuttle to a special, lighter towing dolly. Then around midnight, it traveled over a bridge across Interstate 405, an especially tricky part of the complicated journey

because of the size of the space craft and width of the bridge. The shuttle was pulled across the Manchester Boulevard bridge by a Toyota Tundra pickup, and the car company filmed the event for a commercial after paying for a permit, turning the entire scene into a movie set complete with special lighting, sound and staging.

Police stopped traffic on the freeway below for the duration of the traverse, which took about three minutes. Crews preparing for the crossing had to take down power lines, leaving about 400 residents of surrounding Inglewood without power for what was expected to be several hours.

Once on the other side, crews began the lengthy process of returning it to the original carrier, before resuming its journey early yesterday.

Another tricky part comes later in the day when Endeavour treks through a narrow residential street with apartment buildings on both sides. With its wings expected to intrude into driveways, residents have been told to stay indoors until the shuttle passes.

On Friday, hundreds of camera-toting spectators, some with pajama-clad children in tow, gaped as the 170,000pound (77,000-kilogram) Endeavour inched by with its tail towering over streetlights and its wings spanning the roadway. Over two days, it will trundle 12 miles (19 kilometers) at a top speed of 2 mph (3 kph) to its final destination - the California Science Center where it will be the centerpiece of a new exhibit. It’s expected to reach the museum sometime evening.

After an initial bumpy ride and a brief delay, the shuttle pulled off a massive feat of parallel parking by backing into a shopping center parking lot for a layover as crowds cheered on. “This is unlike anything we’ve ever moved

before,” said Jim Hennessy, a spokesman for Sarens, the contract mover. Spectators flocked to the parking lot in the Westchester neighborhood to get a glimpse of Endeavour, which was guarded by an entourage of police, private security and construction crews.

Janet Dion, a family therapist from nearby Manhattan Beach, marveled at the shuttle, its exterior weathered by millions of miles in space and two dozen re-entries.

“You can sense the magnitude of where it’s been,” Dion said, fixated on the heat tiles that protected the shuttle during the return to Earth. James Nieuwdorp, a technician for a transit agency, saw Endeavour’s aerial victory lap around California last month and traveled to see it again before it becomes a museum piece. He enjoyed how the shuttle brought strangers together. There was “lot of camaraderie something that’s hard to be seen these days,” he said.

Shuffling a five-story-tall shuttle through urban streets was an undertaking that took nearly a year to plan. Because the 78-foot (24-meter) wingspan hangs over sidewalks in some locations, police enforced rolling street and sidewalk closures along the route.

The limited access frustrated some businesses that counted on huge crowds lining the curbs to boost business. Saturday was typically the busiest day for James Fugate, who co-owns Eso Won Books in South Los Angeles. But with Endeavour expected to pass through, Fugate braced for a ho-hum day in sales. “We don’t close because we’re slow. That’s when you pull out a book to read,” he said.

The baby of the shuttle fleet, Endeavour replaced Challenger, which exploded during liftoff in 1986, killing seven astronauts. It thundered off the launch pad 25 times,

orbited Earth nearly 4,700 times and racked up 123 million miles (198 million kilometers).

Transporting Endeavour required a specialized carrier typically used to haul oil rigs, bridges and heavy equipment. The wheels can spin in any direction, allowing the shuttle to zigzag past obstacles. An operator walks alongside, controlling the movements via joystick. Several spotters along the wings are on the lookout for hazards.

Before Endeavour could travel through the streets, some 400 trees were chopped down, cable and telephone lines were hoisted, and steel plates were laid down to protect the streets and underground utilities. Endeavour will mostly travel on wide boulevards with some boasting as many lanes as a freeway. While there have been advance preparations, there was remaining work to be done during the move, including de-energizing power lines.

The route was selected after ruling out other options.

Dismantling the shuttle would have ruined the delicate heat tiles. Helicoptering it to its destination was not feasible. Neither was crossing on freeways since the shuttle is too big to fit through the underpasses. The cost of transporting it cross-town was estimated at over $10 million. As complex as the latest endeavor is, Southern California is no stranger to moving heavy things.

In 1946, Howard Hughes’ “Spruce Goose” aircraft was built in sections and hauled from Culver City to Long Beach, 30 miles (50 kilometers) away. In 1984, an old United Airlines DC-8, with its wings and tail disassembled, was towed from Long Beach to the science center.

Earlier this year, a two-story-tall chunk of granite was hauled 105 miles (169 kilometers) from a rock quarry to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. — AP

US regulators move closer to suing Google

Apple to host Oct 23 event, iPad mini seen

WASHINGTON: Federal regulators are moving closer to suing Google over allegations that the company has abused its dominance of Internet search to stifle competition and drive up online advertising prices, news reports said on Friday.

Several news outlets reported that staff members at the Federal Trade Commission are preparing to recommend that the agency file an antitrust lawsuit against the search giant. A majority of the five FTC commissioners would have to approve a suit before legal action could proceed.

The reports from The New York Times, Bloomberg News and Reuters cited unnamed people briefed on the FTC’s investigation.

FTC spokesman Peter Kaplan declined to comment. The agency has been investigating Google’s business practices. The probe was triggered by complaints that Google Inc has been highlighting its peripheral services in its influential search results and relegating offerings from its rivals to the back pages.—AP

7-8 inch screen would rival Kindle, Nexus

Austrian daredevil to make new space jump bid LOS ANGELES: An Austrian daredevil hopes to make a new record-breaking attempt yesterday to jump from the edge of space, days after his initial bid was aborted at the last minute due to gusting winds.

Felix Baumgartner will be transported up to 23 miles (37 kilometers) above the Rarth beneath an enormous balloon, before launching himself into the void, aiming to become the first human to break the sound barrier in freefall. If successful, he will go down in the record books. If not, he could face serious consequences, including death.

The 43-year-old was seconds away from lift-off in the US state of New Mexico on Tuesday when organizers decided to cancel because his huge, gossamer-thin balloon was buffeted badly, even while still on the ground. The Red Bull Stratos mission managers said shortly afterward that Thursday could work for a new bid, but scrubbed that the next day due to a forecast of windy weather for most of the rest of the week.

But everything now seems set for today morning. “I like what I see on Sunday,” said mission meteorologist Don Day. “It will again be a matter of what happens with the winds on the top” of the balloon.

“We may still have to wait and the window will likely be open until 11:00 am (1700 GMT). We need to be ready for launch just after sunrise” around 6:45 am (1245 GMT), he added.

The ascent is expected to take between two and three hours. If all goes well, the descent will take about 15 to 20 minutes-five minutes or so in freefall, and 10 to 15 floating down with his parachute.

The entire attempt will be beamed live by broadcasters around the world, and online-although with a 20-second delay in case something goes wrong, so that organizers

can cut the feed.

The biggest risk he faces is spinning out of control, which could exert G forces and make him lose consciousness. A controlled dive from the capsule is essential, putting him in a head-down position to increase speed. More gruesomely, the skydiver’s blood could boil if there were the slightest tear or crack in his pressurized spacesuit-like outfit, due to instant depressurization at the extreme altitude.

Temperatures of 90 degrees below zero Fahrenheit (minus 68 Celsius) could also have unpredictable consequences if his suit somehow fails. “If there is a mishap, Mission Control is on it and would absolutely cut the feed,” spokeswoman Sarah Anderson told AFP. Baumgartner aims to break at least three records: the highest freefall leap, the fastest speed ever achieved by a human and become the first person to break the sound barrier of around 690 miles per hour in freefall.

The Austrian has been training for five years for the jump. He holds several previous records, notably with spectacular base jumps from the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The mission, backed by a 100-strong team of experts, also hopes to contribute to medical and aeronautical research aimed at improving the safety of astronauts.

Baumgartner spoke of his disappointment when the first launch was aborted. “When (mission director) Art (Thompson) told me we were aborting the mission, I thought it was a joke,” he said.

“We’ve made it so far. There’s no turning back,” he added. “We’re here, we’ve got the helium and we’re good to go. Whether that’s tomorrow or the first day next week, I don’t really care.” — AFP

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple Inc will host an event on Oct. 23 where it is expected to unveil a smaller iPad that will take on the less expensive devices offered by Amazon.com Inc and Google Inc, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday.

Wall Street analysts have predicted for months that Apple was planning a smaller, less costly version of its popular iPad to take on cheaper competing devices, a move that analysts say might hurt its margins, but prevent its rivals from dominating an increasingly important computing segment.

The source did not specify what the product would be and an Apple spokesman declined to comment, but tech blog AllThingsD reported earlier on Friday that Apple would launch the mini iPad at the event. The device is expected by many experts to have a screen between 7 and 8 inches (18-20 cm).

A smaller iPad will directly compete with e-commerce company Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD tablet and Google’s Nexus 7. Both devices have 7-inch screens and sell for $199. The first Kindle Fire, launched last year, grabbed about a fifth of the US tablet market.

The consumer device company is gearing up to unveil a new product at a major Oct. 23 event, said the source, who declined to be named, only days before Microsoft Corp unveils Windows 8 and its new Surface tablet on Oct 26.

The Nexus 7, manufactured by Asustek Computer Inc, has also seen a successful start, with the tablet selling out soon after launch. One Wall Street analyst said he had seen the smaller tablet, dubbed iPad mini by the media, while visiting component suppliers in Asia.

“We actually had the opportunity to play with a pilot iPad Mini used by one of the vendors,” Topeka Capital analyst Brian White said. “This 7.85-inch iPad Mini fit our hands like a glove and we were easily able to tuck the device in our sport coat, offering consumers a more mobile iPad experience for certain use cases.” Apple events are typically among the most-watched items on the industry calendar, monitored by consumers and technology investors alike. The event in two weeks, however, comes at a time of volatility for the popular technology stock.

Apple shares closed up 0.25 percent at $629.714 on the Nasdaq market, barely recouping significant losses suffered over the past three weeks as investors cashed out after it touched an all-time high of $705.07 on Sept 21.

While the stock is up 55 percent this year, it is currently down 10 percent from its record high. Wall Street analysts have cited concerns about disruptions of iPhone supplies after a riot in September at one of the

plants operated by its main contract manufacturer, Foxconn Technology, and sharp criticism from consumers about errors in its Maps service.

Apple’s fiscal fourth quarter financial results are scheduled to be released on Oct. 25, two days after the event, offering analysts a rare opportunity to grill executives about a new product just after details are made public. A smaller iPad could be a risk to Apple’s industryleading margins, given that neither Amazon nor Google has been known to make much money from the smaller tablets.

Amazon’s first Kindle Fire just about breaks even, according to IHS iSupply estimates. But the internet retailer sells a lot of content - music, books - through the Kindle line. Google has said that its $199 Nexus 7 is being sold at cost and has no profit margin.

Apple earned gross margins of 23 percent to 32 percent on its US iPad sales between October 2010 and the end of March 2012, a court filing by Apple in a recent patent trial against Samsung Electronics Co Ltd revealed in July. The company’s margins on US iPhone sales are almost double those of the iPad, averaging between 49 percent and 58 percent.

Sterne Agee analyst Shaw Wu said that, if Apple prices the smaller tablet between $299 to $349, it could maintain the current margins. “The biggest cost in a tablet is the display,” he said. “On a mini, the display will be a bit cheaper.

If the tablet is priced below $299, Apple could still maintain a decent margin if it offers 8 GB of storage instead of the minimum 16 GB storage it has in the current iPad, Wu added.

A mini version of the iPad marks a departure for the company that now has just one 9.7-inch iPad, although it does come with various storage options and starts at $499.

Late Apple founder Steve Jobs famously derided the 7-inch screen as unwieldy for tablet applications, saying the devices should come with sandpaper so that users can file down their fingers to use them. But an internal email revealed during the patent trial showed that Internet chief Eddy Cue argued there was a market for a 7-inch tablet and that Apple should have one. The email, sent in early 2011 to top Apple executives, said Jobs had warmed up to the idea.

Struggling Silicon Valley technology icon Hewlett Packard Co was among the first to show, albeit unwittingly, that there was indeed a healthy market for cheap tablets. Sales of the TouchPad took off after the company slashed the price to $99 from $399 and $499 after deciding to kill the product. — Reuters

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health & science Long wait for answers in US tainted drug outbreak CHICAGO: Thousands of Americans who may have been injected with a tainted steroid will have to wait weeks to see if they have been infected with meningitis as investigators seek answers to a widening outbreak. That is because testing for the deadly fungus carries its own risks and only a small fraction of the nearly 14,000 people exposed have gotten sick, health officials said. “It will take months for this whole story to be told,” said John Dreyzehner, head of the department of health in Tennessee, the hardest-hit US state.

The number of cases nationwide has risen sharply since health officials began contacting patients in 23 states to warn them of the danger, climbing from 64 on Oct 6 to 185 on Friday. The death toll currently stands at 14, with six of the fatalities in Tennessee. Patients have been cautioned to contact their doctors if they develop any of the flu-like symptoms of the slow-moving infection, which causes an inflammation of the protective membranes that cover the brain and spinal column.

A long incubation period has complicated efforts - one patient did not develop symptoms until 42 days after receiving a tainted injection. “We’re not testing people generally unless there’s a reason to test them because the test itself is not entirely benign,” Dreyzehner told reporters Friday. “It’s fairly routine it’s a lumbar puncture - but it’s more significant than a simple blood test and it’s not entirely without risk.”

While the test can catch signs of infection by a quick analysis of the spinal fluid, it cannot rule out a dormant infection and patients could need to be retested, he added.

Quick detection is key to keeping the infection under control, but patients will require at least 10 days and possibly as much as four to six weeks of hospitalization to receive intravenous anti-fungal therapy. The outbreak has led to calls for tighter regulation of the loosely controlled pharmaceutical compounding industry. Critics said drug manufacturers have found a way to sidestep costly and strict oversight by classifying themselves as pharmacies, which are given freer rein to mix drug compounds for patients.

A senior official with the Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it is “really unfortunate” that it has taken a crisis to highlight the long-standing regulatory gap and called for more authority to oversee the industry. “The world has changed a lot since the days of mortar and pestle, and this is the time for pharmacists, for lawmakers, for regulators and for doctors to sit down to grapple with this new model of pharmacy compounding and come up with a regulatory scheme that appropriately controls the risk,” said Deborah Autor, deputy commissioner for global regulator y operations and policy.

Investigators have not yet determined how the steroids - which are typically injected into the spine to treat back pain - were contaminated but said 50 vials have already been found to contain fungus. The New England Compounding Pharmacy has voluntarily shut down operations and recalled all of its products after it was discovered that three lots amounting to some 17,000 doses were contaminated. The sheer volume indicates that the firm had broken the rules, officials said.

“NECC, under Massachusetts board of pharmacy licensing regulations, was licensed to deliver compounded products in response to individual patient specific prescriptions,” said Madeleine Biondolillo of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. “And it looks through the investigation as though they have violated that aspect of the state licensing regulation despite their assertion that they were operating under the regulations.”

Several lawmakers have already vowed to introduce new legislation to tighten oversight and Senator Richard Blumenthal has called for a criminal investigation. The company had been warned by the FDA in 2006 that its practices were violating the rules and has also been under investigation by state authorities, who have the primary regulatory responsibility for pharmacies.

Meanwhile, the first class action suit against the firm was filed Thursday on behalf of a Minnesota woman who injected with the drug and had to undergo testing after she developed a headache and nausea. The court filings did not indicate whether Barbe Puro was actually infected with meningitis. — AFP

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

H E A LT H & S C I E NC E

Chiropractic seen as ‘alternative medicine’

By Ben Garcia

Soak up the sun, the healthy way!

Diet Care gives you simple tips on enjoying your favorite summer activities healthily.

As the temperature slowly goes down, most of us can finally look forward to our favourite summer activities in Kuwait which we could not enjoy in the blistering heat. However, in the midst of soaking up the sun whilst enjoying our favorite activities, we also need to be mindful of the health risks during the season and take the necessary precautionary steps.

Sarah Dimashkieh, expert dietitian at Diet Care, gives us the inside story on how we are able to healthily enjoy three of our favourite activities during summer here in Kuwait - tanning, snacking and barbecuing.

Tanning Our quest for sun-kissed, golden skin results in us lying under the sun for hours without knowing that this can cause melanoma, commonly known as skin cancer. Dimashkieh reveals three simple steps to achieve your perfect glow, without the added health risks.

STEP 1: Simple rules Remember these three numbers the next time you go tanning: 2, 3 and 15.

2: Only spend a maximum of two hours under the sun 3: Drink three litres of water during summer 15: Always have an SPF 15 sunscreen on when you tan.

STEP 2: Tan-healthy eating Dimashkieh also reveals that some scientists claim that eating food items before tanning such as mangoes, olives, carrots and cheese helps your skin darken faster. “However, don’t have too many carrots or carrot juice after your tan as it causes a condition called carotenosis, whereby your skin actually turns orange,” Dimashkieh adds.

STEP 3: Post tanning eating remedy Tanning can also cause your skin to dry, burn or become dull. An easy remedy is to have a handful of strawberries and cherries, two fruits that are high in antioxidants and will plump up your skin making it supple and beautiful.

Snacking Who doesn’t crave ice-cold snacks on a hot day?

How about an iced cream or iced coffee to quench your thirst? “Coffee itself is low in calories. But when you add whole milk, whipped cream and syrup, it becomes a mega-calorie drink standing at about 400 calories, close to half the daily intake required for an adult woman!” says Dimashkieh . Most popular cafes in Kuwait offer the light version nowadays so opt for that. You could also customize your coffee and make keywords such as” skim-milk” and “sugar-free syrup” part of your order and avoid having additional toppings such as chocolate sauce and whipped cream on your coffee.

Dimashkieh also suggests having food items that are high in calcium and low in fat during summer.

“Calcium is lost when we sweat, especially during summer. So although ice-cream has calcium in it, a much healthier option would be a fruit yoghurt. A plain fruit yoghurt also has healthy probiotics that support the immune and digestive systems,” she explains. “However don’t make the common mistake of assuming that a fruit yoghurt layered with raw nuts, chocolate chip and whipped cream is a healthy snack. Even “healthy” snack toppers such as granola has an additional 138 calories!” Dimashkieh reveals.

Barbecuing It’s a family favourite as everyone, regardless of old or young has a great time. A barbeque staple is usually red meat. However Dimashkieh advises to try barbequing vegetables such as tomatoes, bell peppers and eggplants that all taste great on the grill. “If you must have meat, then make the switch to salmon or white fish. It has omega-3 and is lower in fat. Always make sure that the food items are thoroughly washed before eating them as summer heat can quickly grow dangerous bacteria that causes foodborne illnesses” Dimashkieh explains.

Time for dessert? Fruits such as mangoes, apples and pears also taste great when barbecued especially when dipped in a dark chocolate sauce. “Finally even if you don’t tan, always remember to have three litres of water during summer, especially in Kuwait so that you are always hydrated,” Dimashkieh concludes.

NOTE: Sarah Dimashkieh is the Dietetics Manager at Kuwait’s leading nutritional service provider, Diet Care.

Follow S arah D imashk ieh on Twitter : @DimashkiehSarah

KUWAIT: A chiropractor’s is a rare profession anywhere. Many chiropractors in Kuwait are expatriate doctors. Dr Chet Collins, who comes regularly to Kuwait from the United States under a contract signed with Missoni Hotel, is one of them. He treats Kuwaiti patients at the Six Senses Resort and Spa located at the Missoni Hotel. Currently based in Bali, Indonesia, Collins visits on a quarterly basis. “I stay usually between 10 days to two weeks. I focus on treatment and motion therapy. I do a lot of one on one restoration therapy,” he said.

Chiropractic is a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health. It is generally categorized as complementary and part of an alternative medicine system although some hospitals around the world regularly assign chiropractic doctors in mainstream hospitals.

“It’s about physical problems.

Things are sometimes structurally not working and people can have long term mild or severe chronic pains. We step in when they are unable to solve the problem even after having resorted to all kinds of medicines, therapists, massages, yoga and so on. When their condition still persists, that is when we tend to work and intervene so that we could help remove the pain,” he said.

Collins, who obtained a degree in chiropractic in the US, said his primary function was to look at the functions of the muscles and ligaments to make sure that everything

is moving correctly and as required.

Professionals like him are generally called chiropractors. “Chiropractors’ profession has grown significantly in the US and Europe over the years.

Chiropractic doctors work in hospitals in close coordination with neurologists and orthopedics. The focus in chiropractic is more hands-on and the conservative therapist manipulates the body in ways so as to make it move better,” he explained.

When something is broken and needs repair or surgical intervention, or if it is a neurological issue, then surgery or medication is

Dr Chet Collins advised. “There is a large disparity, a grey area, which is not covered completely by medical community.

Some people consider chiropractics only as an alternative because the mainstream has always been the medical community as we know it.

Though it is an alternative for some medical practitioners, but for some conditions/disease, the primary appropriate route is a chiropractitioner. Many problems in human beings are mechanical or lifestyle

issues.

“You may have a chronic disease and at that moment in time you need medication to deal with it, but you can also achieve results overtime if you focus on lifestyle changes, such as your diet and overall health and fitness. If you improve all of those, then you may have a positive effect, but it may not happen fast enough. So, what we try to do is to emphasize improving selfcare and doing all those things that make your body and your mind strong and resilient. It is possible that you may not even need all that medication in the long run anymore. Your problems may become smaller and the need for intervention in pharmaceutical side could become less. That is because you would be returning to normal health.”

Just like the mainstream doctors, chiropractors also ask patients’ medical history before embarking upon medication. They ask patients why they wanted to see a doctor in the first place. “Then as I hear them, from my experience and knowledge about the human physiology, I know where to look first or what the problem could possibly be. We determine that and find out what is it that is causing the pain. I find those problems with my hands, I can feel it with my hands, but I need full motion to begin with.”

Chiropractors do not issue any prescriptions or medicines for their patients, unlike medical doctors.

“We studied medicine and related pharmaceutical drugs but we do not prescribe medicines,” he said.

Patients who undergo chiropractic procedures can expect 95 percent success in resolving their medical condition.

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WHAT’S ON

Special invitation - Laif Convention SEND US YOUR INSTAGRAM PICS hat’s more fun than clicking a beautiful picture? Sharing it with others! This summer, let other people see the way you see Kuwait - through your lens. Friday Times will feature snapshots of Kuwait through Instagram feeds. If you want to share your Instagram photos, email us at instagram@kuwaittimes.net

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Greetings

he Life Abundant International Fountain (LAIF Church) specially invites you and your family to its Annual Convention, coming up 25 to 28th of October at National Evangelical Church Kuwait (NECK) Compound. This convention will be featuring teaching, ministration, Couple’s night, special seminar for young adults and a banquet on Sunday 28th. We will be glad to be honored by your presence. We are believing God for an awesome time in His presence in this great occasion. Below are the full details of the program: Day 1 - Thursday 25th Opening Ceremony by 6pm @ Family House Fintas Day 2 - Friday 26th Morning Session - A Celebration service/LTI graduation by 10am @ Family House Fintas Day 2 - Friday 26th - Evening Session- Special Shiloh Hour/Power Service by 10pm @ the Hall of faith (NECK) Day 3 - Saturday 27th - Picnic -Family Day out (Featuring Football match/Youth Seminar) 12 noon3pm @Fintas Garden by Fintas Gas station Day 3 - Saturday 27th - Couples Night by 7pm @ Family House Fintas Day 4 - Sunday 28th - Dinner - 6:30pm- 9:30pm @ Hall of faith (NECK Compound-Kuwait City) Family House Address - Fintas Block 4, Street 11, House 40

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‘Kasargod Utsav 2012’, a huge success asargod District Expatriate Association (KAE) the common forum of the natives of Kasargod in Kuwait, held ‘Kasargod Utsav 2012’, a joint festival of Onam and Eid at the Indian Community School, Khaitan on Oct 5.

Indian Ambassador Satish C Mehta inaugurated the festival. The cultural programs that commenced at 10 am lasted until 9pm.

Program committee convener Hamid Madhur elaborated on the program. Patrons Sageer Thrikkarippur, Sathar Kunnil, chairman Aboobakker and others addressed the gathering.

The organizers conducted pencil drawing and coloring competitions for children, pookkalam and musical chair competitions for elders. Prizes were distributed. A wide range of cultural programs such as Bharatanatyam, orchestra, oppana and break-dance were presented. A sumptuous Onasadya was the main attraction of the festival.

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Happy birthday to Hardik Pandey, who had a birthday bash on Thursday evening with his friends, family and relatives. May you be blessed to score higher and more! - love from Cherish.

Dear Messi - On a special day like this, we just want you to know that it is really awesome to have such a lovely and obedient son like you, Happy Birthday my dear. Greetings from dad, mom, friends and wellwishers.

UPCOMING EVENTS Hallowen party Kuwait Irish Society proudly presents Hallowen Party 2012, Children 3- 10 years old, Friday 19th October 5 pm - 7 pm. The English Academy, Jabriya. Competitions - Fancy Dress and Pumpkin Lantern! Games, Parade, Prizes! (bring your own pumpkin lantern). Register by Sunday 14th October 2012 Entry fee on admission Bollywood dance Ballerine’s Bollywoood dance course. A dance course for all every Thursday 4 to 7 at BSK - Salwa.

KTAA meeting The Kuwait Textile Arts Association under the auspices of the Al Sadu House Takes pleasure in inviting you to an exciting evening with renowned fashion designer, Sonali Dharmawenda, as she shares the exotic art and world heritage craft at Batik Design from Sri Lanka. Come meet your 2012-2013 Executive Committee, sign up for quilt group and fibre arts group meetings and workshops galore. Also sign up for the KTAA Member Bazaar which will be held on the 24th of November. If you were a member last year, now is the time to renew’ If you have a friend who is interested, encourage her to join. You can pay at any one of our scheduled activities where there is always a KTAA member to welcome you.

CRYchess 2012 Friends of CRY Club (FOCC), Kuwait announces 9th Nov. 2012 as the date of the hugely popular Chess Tournament for children of all ages upto high-school. All children, amateur or professional, can join/clash with other enthusiasts and support a good cause. “CRYchess 2012” will be held on Friday, 9th Nov. 2012 at the Fahaheel Al-Watanieh Indian Private School (FAIPS) - DPS, Ahmadi, from 0930 - 1630 hrs. The players will be allocated groups by their age, to play in the Swiss pairing format. The lucky winners will walk away with the Trophies, however certificates and medals are awarded from Child Rights & You (CRY) to all participants.

‘Leniency of Islam’ n unprecedented initiative of KTV2 (English channel) is the new program by the name ‘Leniency of Islam’ presented by Shaikh Musaad Alsane and directed by Hamid Al-Turkait. The program is mainly meant to address the expatriates living in Kuwait. Religious questions are received through the program email qislam@tv.gov.kw and sms can be sent to- 97822021 and answered by the lecturer and Imam in Awqaf Ministry Shaikh Musaad Alsane - a Master Degree holder in Sharia and fiqih from Kuwait University. So don’t forget to watch the program every Friday at 1:00 pm.

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Spoken Sanskrit workshop amskrita, or Sanskrit as we call it, is the core of our Bharatiya culture and tradition. To enable the large expat Indian population in the Middle-East to benefit from this endeavour, Samskrita Bharathi will be coming to our doorsteps soon. In the month of October, a Samskrita Camp will be conducted in Kuwait jointly by Samskrita Bharathi, Vichar Bharati and the Department of Sanskrit, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kuwait. This is a golden opportunity for everyone to dip into the vast ocean of the treasures we Indians have inherited in the form of the ancient language of Samskrita. The courses will be held from 12 OCT - 20 OCT. From 4PM - 6 PM - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Abbasiya and from 7PM - 9 PM - Indian Community School (Junior), Salmiya.

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Write to us Send to What’s On upcoming events, birthdays or celebrations by email: local@kuwaittimes.net Fax: 24835619 / 20

‘Landscapes Expanded’ art program commences he British Council and Contemporary Art Platform Kuwait, in partnership with the National Council for Arts and Letters, are pleased to announce Landscapes Expanded, a month long residency program that aims to support artists from different backgrounds to explore landscape art in their own practice.

The exhibition Out of Britain explores 100 years of British landscape and examines the ways in which artists have engaged with landscape and addressed timeless and fundamental questions about man’s place in the world.

The works in the show illustrate individual artist’s attempts to find their place amongst an ever-changing environment where they are often driven to challenge traditional ways of interpreting and framing the landscape.

Landscapes Expanded will support artists to explore contemporary issues intrinsically related to site, space, and place in their field of work. The residency will begin with a three-day workshop that will support artists to develop concepts for their research in the weeks that follow. Throughout the program participants will benefit from group and individual reviews of their work and guidance from the residency facilitator and visiting contributors.

The residency program will be led by artist and curator Alia Farid Abdal, who explores personal perspectives of public space and constructed landscapes in her own art work and academic research. The program will also benefit from insightful contributions from visiting

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artists and art critics such as British Artist David Rayson, whose work is featured in Out of Britain. Rayson is currently the Professor of Painting at the Royal College of Art, London.

Participants’ work produced during the residency program will be exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMArt Kuwait) at the end of October 2012. Chosen works may also be exhibited at a British Council Visual Arts exhibition that will showcase artists from the Gulf at the Brunei Gallery in London in 2015.

Eligibility: This residency is open to practicing artists and creative practitioners (from all disciplines) who are keen to develop the concepts of landscape art in their practice.

Applicants must reside in Kuwait.

Applicants must commit to participate in a three-day workshop (September 18-20, 2012) and closing presentation, which will take place on October 18, 2012.

The workshops will be hosted in English, however translators will be available should they be required.

Procedure: Deadline: September 9, 2012 (10 am) Please e-mail the following (in English or Arabic) to nadia.elsebai@britishcouncil.org Artist CV Up to 10 images of your work with an appendix stating the title, medium, and year the work was executed.

A statement of intent (up to 500 words)

explaining why you are applying to the program and what you hope to obtain from it.

Please briefly state what themes you are interested to explore during the residency program.

Please note that large images will have to be submitted via www.wetransfer.com or any other host site in which your images can be downloaded directly. Alternatively, you may wish to submit a link to your work online. For videos, please provide links of uploaded material either on YouTube or vimeo.

You may elaborate on any of the suggested topics below, or propose your own topic of research.

Suggested topics for research: Urban tribes The politics of dress Geopolitics Landscapes created by advertising Monuments in the construction of landscapes and history The demolished landscape, erasing history, and recuperating memory Imagined landscapes, futuristic and fictitious We will expect all applicants to make a considerable commitment to producing art work throughout the month long residency, and contributing quality finished pieces to the closing exhibition at MoMArt Kuwait (end of October 2012).

Open football tournament fter a successful inaugural tournament which had teams participating from Kuwait and the GCC countries, Real Betalbatim Football Club are all set once again for the second edition, which is scheduled on 27th October 2012. The tournament is organized in fond memory of Late Sheikha Huda Bader Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, and is a much awaited feature in the expatriate football circuit in Kuwait.

Among others who shone during the tournaments were teams: Vaxim Divar from Dubai (UAE), Fahaheel Bros. from Kuwait, CRC Chinchinim from Kuwait and DHL FC, Kuwait whose players were declared to receive special citation and prizes among the 22 teams who equally gave their best during the one day tournament which was cheered by hundreds of spectators and jointly expressed their fondness of celebrating the golden jubilee of Kuwait’s independence.

This year we are expecting many teams from Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar and Goa. Hence, we will have to minimize teams from Kuwait so it will be on first come first serve basis. A total of 22 teams participated in the fiesta which coincided with the 50 years of National Day Celebrations of Kuwait, last year, and more teams are envisaged to join in this year to claim the glittering trophy and valuable prizes.

Last year, Aldona Football Club took flight with the prestigious trophy to the United Arab Emirates to add to their collection, together with one of the ‘Man of the Match’ awards and the best goalkeeper award.

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WHAT’S ON

Embassy Information EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA The Australian Embassy Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visas and immigration matters in conducted by The Australian Consulate-General in Dubai. Email: info.ausdxb@vfshelpline.com (VFS) immigration.dubai@dfat.gov.au (Visa Office); Tel: +971 4 355 1958 (VFS) - +971 4 508 7200 (Visa Office); Fax: +971 4 355 0708 (Visa Office). In Kuwait applications can be lodged at the Australian Visa Application Centre 4B 1st Floor, Al-Banwan Building Al-Qibla Area, Ali Al-Salem Street, opposite the Central Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Working hours and days: 09:30 - 17:30; Sunday - Thursday. Or visit their website www.vfs-au-gcc-com for more information. Kuwait citizens can apply for tourist visas on-line at www.immi.gov.au/e visa/e676.htm.

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Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy to open Kuwait chapter: Soorya

By Sajeev K Peter oorya Krishnamoorthy, the chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy and Festival Director, International Theatre of Kerala, said here that the academy has plan to open chapters across the Gulf countries.

Interacting with a group of Indian community representatives, Krishnamoorthy unveiled the Academy’s new initiative to support and recognize ‘Pravasi Malayali artists’ in the region by honoring them and helping them promote their traditional art.

“There are several genuine and highly respectable artists in different parts of the Gulf region, engaged in promoting various art forms such as theatre, dance and other traditional cultural forms.

Many of the art forms are on now the verge of extinction. Unfortunately, they don’t get proper recognition or support from anywhere. I honestly believe that

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the Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Academy can do something to help them and recognize them,” he said addressing the group at UAE Exchange Centre, Kuwait.

“Today, all the accolades go to film and television stars in Kerala. The gov-

ernment, official institutions and people recognize and encourage only artists in the so-called world of glamour,” he said.

“At the same, many genuine and dedicated artists, especially in the fields of circus, theatre and classical dance, are

now forgotten. Many of them in their old age, lead a life of distress in abject poverty and sickness,” he pointed out.

Krishnamoorthy informed that after taking over as the academy chairman last year, the academy instituted awards to honor Keralites living in other parts of India. It launched medical insurance schemes and financial aid programs to help sick and old artists who dedicated their lives in their young age to their art, he said. Elaborating on his plan to launch a Kuwait chapter for the academy, he said it will be a non-political and non-religious body with a definite objective to support and promote Kerala’s traditional arts and recognize and honor ‘Pravasi artists.’ The tenmember ad hoc committee will be reelected every year. He hoped that the proposed Kuwait chapter will be a reality by next financial year.

Krisnamoorthy is the founder of Soorya Stage and Film Society which is

the largest cultural society of the world and also the best-run society in the country. It has chapters in 36 countries including Kuwait. According to Krishnamoorthy, Soorya aims at dissemination of the Indian culture and seeks to achieve ‘Integration through Culture.’

He was in Kuwait to present its prestigious cultural show ‘Soorya Festival’ on Thursday. Pancily Varkey, Country Head, UAE Exchange, welcomed the gathering. Thomas Kadavil, Babuji Batheri, Sajeev K Peter and Girish Ottapalam spoke on the occasion. Malayali community representatives Vijayan Karayil, B S Pillai, Ramji and Manoj Mavelikara were among the others who participated in the meeting.

‘Out of Kuwait’ exhibition ritish Council, in partnership with Contemporary Art Platform Kuwait and the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, will celebrate the opening of Out of Kuwait exhibition on the 17 October 2012 at 19:00 at the Museum of Modern Art, Kuwait.

Out of Kuwait brings together the work of twelve Kuwait-based artists who have examined and reinterpreted the theme of landscape art during a one month artist residency program called Landscapes Expanded. The exhibition presents the artists’ analysis of their everyday surroundings and comments on the social, political, and physical landscapes of contemporary Kuwait. This unique opportunity was inspired by the best of Britain’s Landscape artists, whose work is seen in the British Council’s Out of Britain exhibition currently open at Contemporary Art Platform Kuwait.

The program has given artists living in Kuwait the chance to explore contemporary issues related to site, space and place in their field of work. Landscapes Expanded was open to candidates from all creative and academic disciplines with the understanding that this would create a trans-disciplinary forum for thinking and working. Each participant’s expertise and experience in their own field helped to inform the work generated by the rest of the group.

For individuals outside of formal education this type of stimulating platform is rare.

Residency participant Muneera Al Sharhan explains that the residency program has exposed the participants to new methods of creating artwork and has helped them to meet other artists. Fellow participant, Lewis Chapman agrees and states, “If museums and galleries run more educational programs where artists can meet and work together and if local universities commit to supporting quality arts programs, more meaningful and inspiring art will be produced. I hope this residency program is the first of many in Kuwait.”

Landscapes Expanded is led by artist and curator Alia Farid Abdal, who explores personal perspectives of public space and constructed landscapes in her own art work and academic research. Participating in the programme are architects Aziz Al Humaidhi and Roa AlShaheen, architecture undergraduate Amani Adel Al Thuwaini, spatial designer Aseel Al Yaqoub, Religion, Literature and Arts graduate, Nima Algooneh, English Literature graduate, Zahra Al Mahdi, jewellery designer, Muneera Al Sharhan, painters Lewis Chapman and Eman Musallem, writer and translator Faisal Hamadah, journalist Naser Al Wasmi, and Middle East Studies graduate, Ceyda Oskay.

This initiative is part of British Council’s exhibition Out of Britain: 100 years of British Landscape Art. Out Of Britain is one of the largest cultural events the British Council Kuwait has organised in more than 50 years and is supported by a full month-long public campaign. As well as this artist residency, Landscapes Expanded includes a series of public lectures led by arts specialists from the UK and Kuwait, and an educational program for schools. Out of Kuwait will be open at the Museum of Modern Art, Kuwait from 17 - 24 October 2012. Out of Britain is open at Contemporary Art Platform Kuwait until 25 October 2012.

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ICSK, Amman celebrates Teachers’ Day n 27, September 2012, the Indian Community School, Kuwait, Amman Branch celebrated teachers’ day through a ‘Self- Government day’. This annual event is an essential function for both teachers and students.

Students of Classes IX and X played their role by ensuring smooth functioning of the School and by maintaining discipline in the school. All the Senate Members, with the help of our respect-

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ed Principal, Vice Principal and Senate Advisor, played a vital role in the success of the event.

Teachers were given a heartfelt welcome by the President of the School Melvin Varughese. A special program, anchored by the Prefects of Class IX Saleha and Isha, included solo performances, group songs, dance and skit. All the teachers had a great time throughout the program even as the Student-

Teachers enjoyed their new duty of teaching and maintaining complete discipline and decorum for the day. Special vote of thanks was given by Sneha George of Class IX and the event was a huge success for the students and entertaining for the teachers.

‘HSE Certification Talk Program’ merican Society of Safety Engineers, Kuwait Chapter recently organized the 5th Technical meet program on “HSE Certification Talk Program” at Kohinoor Banquets Hall, Fahaheel. Vasudevan N, CSP , President started the meet with his welcome address followed by Golamari Samapath Reddy, Secretary, ASSE Kuwait Chapter shared the importance of the HSE certification for the HSE professionals. CH Rama Krushna Chary, Head of Technical Events Committee, ASSE - Kuwait Chapter the moderator of the meet introduced the topic and delivered an introduction of the HSE certifications.

The Key note speakers of the meet were Ashok Garlapati, CSP, QEP, CMIOSH, Administrator, ASSE International Practice Specialty, Ujwal Ritwik, CRSP, QEP, HSE Specialist, KNPC. Ravi Tammanur, CIH, CSP, Industrial Hygienist, Kuwait National Petroleum Company. Ravi Tammanur in his presentation briefed on the certification process which includes leligibility, Requirements, Preparation, Eligibility, Application dates, Fees, Examination Centers, Examination Subject Area, Guides & Study reference etc...

Ashok Garlapati in his presentation briefed on the BCSP certification procedures, the certifications offered by BCSP, the differ-

A

ence between certificate and certification, the eligibility criteria, fees, Certificate validity, Re-certification procedures and the resources available to get certification, with some useful tips.

Ujwal Ritwik in his presentation briefed on the Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) credentials like the certifying institutes and their recognitions, needs of QEP and QEP Commitments, the examination process, the requirements for the exam and re-certification requirements.

The short presentations were followed by an extensive question & answer session lasted for about 40 minutes, where the speakers clarified the queries raised by attendees. Most of the attendees, who are ASSE members were satisfied with the clarifications and thanked the ASSE EC committee for organizing such useful technical meet. As a token of appreciation ASSE-Kuwait chapter thanked the speakers for their presentation and felicitated with mementos. The program was very much beneficial to all the members particularly to ASP/SCP Certification aspirants.

Around 90 ASSE members took advantage by attending this technical meet. High tea served at the end of the session.

EMBASSY OF CANADA The Canadian Embassy in Kuwait does not have a visa or immigration department. All processing of visa and immigration matters including enquiries is conducted by the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. Individuals who are interested in working, studying, visiting or immigrating to Canada should contact the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, website: www.UAE.gc.ca or www.goingtocanada.gc.ca, E-mail: abdbi-imenquiry@international.gc.ca.

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EMBASSY OF CYPRUS In its capacity as EU Local Presidency in the State of Kuwait, the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, on behalf of the Member States of the EU and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, would like to announce that as from 2nd October 2012 all Schengen States’ Consulates in Kuwait will use the Visa Information System (VIS). The VIS is a central database for the exchange of data on short-stay (up to three months) visas between Schengen States. The main objectives of the VIS are to facilitate visa application procedures and checks at external border as well as to enhance security. The VIS will contain all the Schengen visa applications lodged by an applicant over five years and the decisions taken by any Schengen State’s consulate. This will allow applicants to establish more easily the lawful use of previous visas and their bona fide status. For the purpose of the VIS, applicants will be required to provide their biometric data (fingerprints and digital photos) when applying for a Schengen visa. It is a simple and discreet procedure that only takes a few minutes. Biometric data, along with the data provided in the Schengen visa application form, will be recorded in the VIS central database.

Therefore, as from 2nd October 2012, first-time applicants will have to appear in person when lodging the application, in order to provide their fingerprints. For subsequent applications within 5 years the fingerprints can be copied from the previous application file in the VIS. The Cypriot Presidency would like to assure the people of Kuwait and all its permanent citizens that the Member States and associated States participating in the Schengen cooperation, have taken all necessary technical measures to facilitate the rapid examination and the efficient processing of visa applications and to ensure a quick and discreet procedure for the implementation of the new VIS. ■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF FRANCE The Embassy would like to inform that starting September 2nd, 2012, visa demands for France will be handled by the outsourcing company “Capago - MENA Company”. Capago - MENA’S Call Center will be operational starting Sunday August 26 for setting appointments beginning September 2nd (+965 22270555).

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EMBASSY OF INDIA The Embassy of India will remain closed on OCT 24, 2012 -Wednesday-Dussehra (Vijaya Dashami) ■■■■■■■

EMBASSY OF NIGERIA The Nigerian embassy has its new office in Mishref. Block 3, Street 7, House 4. For enquires please call 25379541. Fax25387719. Email- nigeriakuwait@yahoo.com or nigeriankuwait@yahoo.co.uk.

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EMBASSY OF PERU The Embassy of Peru is located in Sharq, Ahmed Al Jaber Street, Al Arabiya Tower, 6th Floor. Working days / hours: SundayThursday /9 am - 4 pm. Residents in Kuwait interested in getting a visa to travel to Peru and companies attracted to invest in Peru are invited to visit the permanent exposition room located in the Embassy. For more information, please contact: (+965) 22267250/1.

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EMBASSY OF UKRAINE

The Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait would like to remind that the external polling station No 90046 was created in the Embassy’s premises at the following address: Hawalli, Jabriya, bl.10, str. 6, build. 5. The working hours of the polling station: from Sunday to Thursday is from 13.00 to 17.00 pm; Friday from 10 to 1 pm; Saturday from 10 am to 1 pm. On October 28, 2012 the working hours of the polling station from 8 am to 8 pm. Please be advised to refer to the Embassy to check your data in the Electoral Register as well as to pick up your personal invitation from the polling station if you did not receive this document by post.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

TV PROGRAMS 20:20 Bang Goes The Theory

00:45 01:35 02:25 03:15 04:05 04:55 05:45 06:35 07:00 07:25 08:15 09:10 10:05 10:30 11:00 11:25 11:55 12:50 13:45 14:40 15:05 15:35 16:00 16:30 17:25 18:20 19:15 20:10 21:05 22:00 22:55 23:50

Animal Cops Phoenix Into The Dragon’s Lair Bad Dog Cats 101 Wildest Arctic Animal Cops Phoenix Michaela’s Animal Road Trip Wildlife SOS Talk To The Animals Dogs 101 Crocodile Hunter Michaela’s Animal Road Trip Dick ‘n’ Dom Go Wild Breed All About It Natural Born Hunters The Really Wild Show Wildest Arctic Wild France Wild France Safari Vet School Safari Vet School Wild Animal Orphans Wild Animal Orphans Bad Dog My Cat From Hell World Wild Vet Max’s Big Tracks Tigers Attack Wildest Arctic Speed Of Life The Magic Of The Big Blue I’m Alive

23:50 Animal Cops Houston 00:10 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 01:00 Bargain Hunt 01:45 Bargain Hunt 02:30 Antiques Roadshow 03:25 Antiques Roadshow 04:15 Antiques Roadshow 05:10 Antiques Roadshow 06:05 Antiques Roadshow 07:00 MasterChef Australia 07:50 MasterChef Australia 08:15 MasterChef Australia 09:05 MasterChef Australia 09:30 MasterChef Australia 10:15 MasterChef Australia 11:05 MasterChef Australia 11:50 MasterChef Australia 12:15 MasterChef Australia 13:05 MasterChef Australia 13:30 Twiggy’s Frock Exchange 14:20 10 Years Younger 15:10 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 15:50 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 16:35 DIY SOS 17:00 Holmes On Homes 17:50 Bargain Hunt 18:35 Bargain Hunt 19:20 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 20:10 Gok’s Clothes Roadshow 21:00 MasterChef 21:55 MasterChef 22:50 Extreme Makeover: Home Edition 23:30 Extreme Makeover: Home EditionEdition 00:40 01:35 02:30 03:00 03:25 03:55 04:20 04:50 05:15 05:40 06:05 06:35 07:00 07:25 07:50 08:45 09:10 09:40 10:30 11:25 12:20 12:45 13:15 13:40 14:10 14:35 15:30 16:25 17:20 17:50 18:15 18:45 19:10 20:05 21:00 21:55 22:50 23:45

Hellriders Ultimate Cops How Do They Do It? How It’s Made How Do They Do It? How It’s Made How Do They Do It? How It’s Made How Do They Do It? How It’s Made How Do They Do It? How It’s Made How It’s Made How Do They Do It? Dirty Great Machines Crash Course Crash Course One Car Too Far Around The World In 80 Ways Deadliest Catch How It’s Made How It’s Made How It’s Made How It’s Made How It’s Made Dealers Dealers Dealers Border Security Border Security Border Security Border Security Mythbusters Mythbusters Deception With Keith Barry Secret Service Secrets Superhuman Showdown Superhuman Showdown

23:20 Surviving Disaster 00:35 Weird Or What?

01:25 Catch It Keep It 02:15 Things That Move 02:45 Morgan Freeman’s Through The Wormhole 03:35 Moon Machines 04:25 Stephen Hawking’s Grand Design 05:15 How The Universe Works 06:05 Morgan Freeman’s Through The Wormhole 07:00 Meteorite Men 07:50 Meteorite Men 08:40 Head Rush 08:43 Sci-Fi Science 09:12 Sci-Fi Science 09:40 Mega World 10:30 Things That Move 10:55 Things That Move 11:20 Moon Machines 12:10 Weird Or What?

13:00 Space Pioneer 13:50 Catch It Keep It 14:45 Futurecar 15:35 Things That Move 16:00 Head Rush 16:03 The Tech Show 16:32 The Tech Show 17:00 Morgan Freeman’s Through The Wormhole 17:50 Da Vinci’s Machines 18:40 Things That Move 19:05 Things That Move 19:30 How The Universe Works 20:20 Alien Encounters 21:10 Alien Encounters 22:00 How The Universe Works 22:50 Alien Encounters 23:40 Alien Encounters

00:15 00:40 00:55 01:10 01:30 02:00 02:25 02:50 03:20 03:40 04:10 04:35 05:00 05:15 05:30 05:50 06:00 06:15 06:30 06:45 07:00 07:15 07:30 07:55 08:20 08:45 Pooh 08:55 09:20 09:30 09:45 09:55 10:05 10:15 Pooh 10:20 Pooh 10:45 11:10 11:35 12:05 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 13:25 13:40 13:50 14:15 Pooh 14:40 15:05 15:20 15:35 15:50 16:05 16:20 16:30 16:45 17:10 17:40 18:05 18:20 18:35 19:05 19:25 19:40 Pooh 20:05 20:20 20:30 20:45 Pooh 20:50 20:55 21:00 21:25 21:40 21:55 Pooh 22:20 22:30 22:45 22:55 23:20 23:35 23:50

Little Einsteins Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Special Agent Oso Lazytown Little Einsteins Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Special Agent Oso Lazytown Little Einsteins Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Special Agent Oso Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Jungle Junction Handy Manny Special Agent Oso Jungle Junction Little Einsteins Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Imagination Movers Mini Adventures Of Winnie The Lazytown Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jake & The Neverland Pirates Doc McStuffins Doc McStuffins The Hive Mini Adventures Of Winnie The New Adventures Of Winnie The Art Attack S2 Imagination Movers Lazytown Special Agent Oso Mouk Jungle Junction Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jake & The Neverland Pirates Doc McStuffins Doc McStuffins Mouk Art Attack S2 New Adventures Of Winnie The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse The Hive Mouk Handy Manny Jake & The Neverland Pirates Jake & The Neverland Pirates Doc McStuffins Doc McStuffins Art Attack S2 Lazytown Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Mouk Jake & The Neverland Pirates Imagination Movers Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jungle Junction New Adventures Of Winnie The Jake & The Neverland Pirates Doc McStuffins Doc McStuffins Mini Adventures Of Winnie The A Poem Is...

Animated Stories Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Jake & The Neverland Pirates Special Agent Oso New Adventures Of Winnie The Timmy Time Jungle Junction Handy Manny Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Special Agent Oso Special Agent Oso Lazytown

ecial Agent Oso 23:50 Lazytown 00:25 01:20 02:15 02:40 03:10 Ride 03:35 Ride 04:05 Ride 04:30 Ride 05:00 05:55 07:00 07:55 08:50 09:45 10:40 11:35 12:00 12:30 13:25 14:20 15:15 16:10 17:05 18:00 Ride 18:25 Ride 18:55 Ride 19:20 Ride 19:50 20:15 20:45 21:10 21:40 22:35 23:30

00:05 00:30 00:55 01:45 02:35 03:00 03:25 03:50 04:15 04:40 05:05 05:30 06:10 06:35 07:00 07:50 08:15

TNA: Greatest Matches M1 Selection 2010 The Cool Guy Files The Cool Guy Files Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Blood, Sweat And Gears Blood, Sweat And Gears Winter Dew Tour 09/10 Winter Dew Tour 09/10 Winter Dew Tour 09/10 Blood, Sweat And Gears Blood, Sweat And Gears X Games Heroes X Games Heroes Winter Dew Tour 09/10 Winter Dew Tour 09/10 Winter Dew Tour 09/10 I’ll Do Anything I’ll Do Anything Carpocalypse Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Pinks: Lose The Race, Lose Your Formula Drift 2011 Formula Drift 2011 The Cool Guy Files The Cool Guy Files Stylemasters Stylemasters Trulli Love

Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Best In Smoke Chopped Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Guy’s Big Bite Outrageous Food Crave Chopped Barefoot Contessa Barefoot Contessa Iron Chef America Barefoot Contessa Barefoot Contessa

08:40 Crave 09:05 Charly’s Cake Angels 09:30 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 09:55 Cooking For Real 10:20 Cooking For Real 10:45 Healthy Appetite With Ellie Krieger 11:10 Unwrapped 11:35 United Tastes Of America 12:00 Chopped 12:50 Guy’s Big Bite 13:15 Cooking For Real 13:40 Barefoot Contessa 14:05 Barefoot Contessa 14:30 Crave 14:55 Charly’s Cake Angels 15:20 Jenny Morris Cooks Morocco 15:45 Food(Ography) 16:35 Barefoot Contessa 17:00 Barefoot Contessa 17:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 17:50 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 18:15 Guy’s Big Bite 18:40 Unique Sweets 19:05 Charly’s Cake Angels 19:30 Chopped 20:20 Iron Chef America 21:10 Food Network Challenge 22:00 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 22:25 Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives 22:50 Unwrapped 23:15 Unwrapped 23:40 Guy’s Big Bite Bite 00:30 A Haunting 01:20 The Haunted 02:05 Ghost Lab 02:55 A Haunting 03:45 A Haunting 04:30 On The Case With Paula Zahn 05:20 Mystery Diagnosis 06:10 Disappeared 07:00 Mystery Diagnosis 07:50 Street Patrol 08:15 Street Patrol 08:40 Real Emergency Calls 09:05 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

09:30 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 10:20 Murder Shift 11:10 Disappeared 12:00 Mystery Diagnosis 12:50 Street Patrol 13:15 Street Patrol 13:40 Forensic Detectives 14:30 True Crime With Aphrodite Jones 15:20 Real Emergency Calls 15:45 Who On Earth Did I Marry?

16:10 Murder Shift 17:00 Disappeared 17:50 Forensic Detectives 18:40 Mall Cops‚Äì Mall Of America 19:05 On The Case With Paula Zahn 19:55 Stalked: Someone’s Watching 20:20 Nightmare Next Door 21:10 Couples Who Kill 22:00 The Will: Family Secrets Revealed 22:50 I Was Murdered 23:15 I Was Murdered 23:40 Fatal Encounters

00:15 Bondi Rescue: Bali 00:45 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 01:40 Roam 02:05 Don’t Tell My Mother 02:35 Gone to save the planet 03:00 Gone to save the planet 03:30 One Man & His Campervan 03:55 One Man & His Campervan 04:25 Market Values 04:50 Market Values 05:20 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 3 05:45 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 3 06:15 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 1 06:40 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 1 07:10 On Surfari 07:35 On Surfari 08:05 Bondi Rescue: Bali 08:30 Bondi Rescue: Bali 09:00 Bondi Rescue: Bali 09:25 Bondi Rescue 09:55 Bondi Rescue 10:20 Bondi Rescue 10:50 Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled 11:45 Roam 12:10 Don’t Tell My Mother 12:40 Gone to save the planet 13:05 Gone to save the planet 13:35 One Man & His Campervan 14:00 One Man & His Campervan 14:30 Market Values 14:55 Market Values 15:25 Dive Detectives 16:20 Bondi Rescue: Bali 16:45 Bondi Rescue: Bali 17:15 Bondi Rescue: Bali 17:40 Bondi Rescue 18:10 Bondi Rescue 18:35 Bondi Rescue 19:05 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 3 19:30 David Rocco‚Äôs Dolce Vita 3 20:00 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 1 20:30 David Rocco’s Dolce Vita 1 21:00 On Surfari 21:30 On Surfari 22:00 Bondi Rescue 22:25 Bondi Rescue 22:55 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 23:20 Food Lover’s Guide To The Planet 23:50 Kimchi Chronicles 23:00 Naked Science 00:00 01:00 01:55 02:50 03:45 04:40 05:35 06:30 07:25 08:20 09:15 10:10 11:05 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

Python Hunters Caught In The Act Monster Fish Amazonia’s Giant Jaws Big Cat Wars Caught In The Act World’s Weirdest Swamp Men Swamp Men Cliffhangers Python Hunters Built For The Kill Caught In The Act Untamed Americas Monster Fish Prehistoric Predators Crimes Against Nature Shark Nicole Puma!

I, Predator Untamed Americas Monster Fish Prehistoric Predators Crimes Against Nature Shark Nicole

00:00 My Bloody Valentine-R 02:00 Full Metal Jacket-18 04:00 Constantine-PG15 06:00 Ong Bak 2-PG15 08:00 Red Faction: Origins-PG15 10:00 Last Breath-PG15 12:00 Arachnophobia-PG15 14:00 Red Faction: Origins-PG15 16:00 Judge Dredd-18 18:00 Arachnophobia-PG15 20:00 Hustle And Flow-18 22:00 True Justice: Vengeance Is Mine-PG15 20:00 Fighting-PG15 22:00 Homecoming-18 01:30 Saturday Night Live 03:00 Bent 03:30 Bent 04:00 Two And A Half Men 04:30 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 06:00 Friends 07:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 08:00 Two And A Half Men 08:30 Bent 09:30 The Simpsons 11:00 The Tonight Show With Jay Leno 12:00 Friends 12:30 Two And A Half Men 14:00 Bent 15:00 The Simpsons 16:30 Friends 17:00 Late Night With Jimmy Fallon 18:00 Happy Endings 18:30 Hot In Cleveland 20:30 Melissa & Joey 21:00 The Daily Show With Jon Stewart 21:30 The Colbert Report 23:30 Late Night With Jimmy Fall on 00:00 01:00 02:00 03:00 04:00 05:00 06:00 07:00 07:30 08:00 09:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 12:30 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 16:30 17:00 18:00 19:00 20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00 23:00

White Collar C.S.I. C.S.I. Miami Grimm House C.S.I. Miami White Collar Emmerdale Coronation Street Castle Breakout Kings C.S.I. House Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Castle White Collar Emmerdale Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show Castle House Unforgettable The Killing True Blood Grimm Grimm

01:00 And Soon The Darkness-PG15 03:00 Constantine-PG15 05:00 Law Abiding Citizen-18 07:00 Rocky IV-PG15 09:00 True Justice: Dark VengeancePG15 11:00 Law Abiding Citizen-18 13:00 The Craigslist Killer-PG15 15:00 True Justice: Dark VengeancePG15 17:00 Inside Out-PG15 19:00 Rollerball-18 21:00 True Justice: Vengeance Is Mine-PG15 23:00 Botched-18 23:00 Luster-18 00:00 The Royal Tenenbaums-18 02:00 The Dilemma-PG15 04:00 Hitch-PG15 06:00 Baby Geniuses-PG 08:00 Life As We Know It-PG15 10:00 Robots-PG 12:00 Happy Gilmore-PG15 14:00 Below The Beltway-PG15 16:00 Robots-PG 18:00 The Secret Of My Success-PG15 20:00 I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry-PG15 22:00 Greenberg-18 22:00 Frenemy-18 01:30 Planet Of The Apes-PG15 03:30 Somewhere-18 05:15 Film Socialisme-PG15 07:00 Coyote Ugly-PG15 09:00 Hollywood, I’m Sleeping Over Tonight-PG15 10:45 The Great Gatsby-PG 13:15 Swansong: Story Of Occi Byrne-PG15 15:00 Hollywood, I’m Sleeping Over Tonight-PG15 17:00 The Greatest-PG15 19:00 Love And Other Impossible Pursuits-PG15 21:00 Tyrannosaur-18 23:00 The Silence Of The Lambs-18 Square Grouper-18 00:00 01:30 03:30 05:45 PG15 07:00 09:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00 23:00

Attack The Block-PG15 Red-PG15 The Conspirator-PG15 Marion Jones: Press PauseThe Muppets-PG Soul Surfer-PG15 Into The Wind-PG15 Muhammad And Larry-PG15 12 Dates Of Christmas-PG15 Battle For Terra-PG Soul Surfer-PG15 The Green Hornet-PG15 Arthur-PG15 Wuthering Heights-18

00:00 The Adventures Of Don Quixote-FAM 02:00 Free Birds-FAM 04:00 Paws-PG 06:00 The Ugly Duckling In Tales Of Mystery-FAM 08:00 Olentzero And The Magic LogFAM 10:00 Hop-PG 12:00 Paws-PG 14:00 Maroons-FAM 16:00 The Great Bear-PG 18:00 Hop-PG

KNCC PROGRAM FROM THURSDAY TO WEDNESDAY (11/10/2012 TO 17/10/2012) SHARQIA-1 THE APPARITION :2D FRI THE EXPATRIATE :2D THE APPARITION :2D THE EXPATRIATE :2D THE WORDS :2D THE EXPATRIATE :2D THE EXPATRIATE :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:15 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

SHARQIA-2 TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 2:45 PM 4:45 PM 6:45 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

SHARQIA-3 HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-1 THE WORDS :2D THE EXPATRIATE :2D THE APPARITION :2D THE WORDS :2D THE EXPATRIATE :2D THE EXPATRIATE :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

MUHALAB-2 AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D WON’T BACK DOWN :2D THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH NO SUN+TUE+WED MUHALAB-3 TAKEN2 :2D FRI HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET TAKEN2 :2D HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET TAKEN2 :2D HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED FANAR-1 HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:15 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

1:30 PM 1:00 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 1:00 AM

FANAR-2 WON’T BACK DOWN :2D DREDD :3D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D WON’T BACK DOWN :2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:45 AM

FANAR-3 WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM AIYYAA: 2D (Hindi) WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM AIYYAA: 2D (Hindi) WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM 9:00 PM 12:05 AM

FANAR-4 TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

FANAR-5 THE WORDS THE APPARITION THE WORDS THE APPARITION THE WORDS THE APPARITION NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

MARINA-1 THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE APPARITION :2D THE WORDS :2D THE APPARITION :2D THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:00 PM 12:05 AM

MARINA-2 HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET WON’T BACK DOWN :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:30 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

MARINA-3 THE EXPATRIATE: 2D TAKEN2 :2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D TAKEN2 :2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:45 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM

AVENUES-1 AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED AVENUES-2 PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) THE APPARITION :2D

PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) THE APPARITION :2D PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) THE APPARITION :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

6:30 PM 8:45 PM 11:00 PM 1:15 AM

DREDD :3D BAIT (3D- Digital) DREDD :3D BAIT (3D- Digital) DREDD :3D NO SUN+TUE+WED

AVENUES-3 THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

AVENUES-4 THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

360 º- 7 WON’T BACK DOWN :2D 1:45 PM THE WORDS :2D 4:15 PM WON’T BACK DOWN :2D 6:30 PM NO WED (17.10.2012) French Film Festival Show“The Artist”6:30 PM WED (17.10.2012) French Film Festival Show“War is declared” 8:30 PM WED (17.10.2012) THE WORDS :2D 9:00 PM NO WED (17.10.2012) WON’T BACK DOWN :2D 11:00 PM

AVENUES-5 TAKEN2 :2D 12:30 PM TAKEN2 :2D 2:45 PM NO SAT (13/10/2012) Special Show “THE EXPENDABLES 2(2D-Digital)” for Ms. Rana Al Bassam 2:45 PM SAT (13/10/2012) TAKEN2 :2D 5:00 PM TAKEN2 :2D 7:15 PM TAKEN2 :2D 9:30 PM TAKEN2 :2D 11:45 PM NO SUN+TUE+WED AVENUES-6 HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM

AVENUES-7 TETA RAHIBA(2D-Digital) AIYYAA: 2D (Hindi) ENGLISH VINGLISH :2D (Hindi) AIYYAA: 2D (Hindi) TETA RAHIBA(2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:30 PM 6:30 PM 9:30 PM 12:30 AM

AVENUES-8 WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:15 PM 3:15 PM 5:15 PM 7:15 PM 9:15 PM 11:15 PM 1:15 AM

AVENUES-9 THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

AVENUES-10 THE WORDS :2D WON’T BACK DOWN :2D THE WORDS :2D WON’T BACK DOWN :2D THE WORDS :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:15 PM 4:30 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:45 PM

AVENUES-11 TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

360º- 1 THE EXPATRIATE: 2D 2:00 PM THE EXPATRIATE: 2D 4:15 PM THE EXPATRIATE: 2D 6:30 PM NO TUE (16.10.2012) THE EXPATRIATE: 2D 8:45 PM NO TUE (16.10.2012) French Film Festival Show“The Intouchables” 9:00 PM TUE (16.10.2012) THE EXPATRIATE: 2D 11:00 PM NO TUE (16.10.2012) THE EXPATRIATE: 2D 1:15 AM NO SUN+TUE+WED 360º- 2 AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 4:15 PM 7:00 PM 9:45 PM 12:30 AM

360 º- 3 THE APPARITION :2D PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) THE APPARITION :2D PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) THE APPARITION :2D PREMIUM RUSH (2D-Digital) NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:00 PM 3:15 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

360 º- 4 THE IMPOSTER THE IMPOSTER THE IMPOSTER THE IMPOSTER THE IMPOSTER NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:30 PM 4:45 PM 7:00 PM 9:15 PM 11:30 PM

12:30 PM 3:15 PM 6:00 PM 8:45 PM 11:30 PM

360 º- 5 WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM FRI+SAT WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:00 PM 4:15 PM

360 º- 6 BAIT (3D- Digital)

2:15 PM 4:15 PM 6:15 PM 8:15 PM 10:15 PM 12:15 AM

1:15 PM

3:30 PM 5:45 PM 8:00 PM 10:15 PM 12:30 AM

360 º- 8 HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

360 º- 9(VIP-1) HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:00 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

360 º-10(VIP-2) TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:45 PM 6:00 PM 8:15 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

360 º- 11 THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:45 PM 1:00 AM

360 º- 12 TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:00 PM 7:15 PM 9:30 PM 11:45 PM

360 º- 13 THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN THE DARK KNIGHT RISES RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 4:15 PM 7:45 PM 10:00 PM 12:45 AM

360 º- 14 TETA RAHIBA(2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA(2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA(2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA(2D-Digital) TETA RAHIBA(2D-Digital)

2:15 PM 4:30 PM 6:45 PM 9:00 PM 11:15 PM

360 º- 15 AIYYAA: 2D (Hindi) ENGLISH VINGLISH :2D (Hindi) AIYYAA: 2D (Hindi) AIYYAA: 2D (Hindi) NO SUN+TUE+WED

2:30 PM 5:30 PM 8:30 PM 11:30 PM

AL-KOUT.1 TAKEN2 :2D THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH TAKEN2 :2D THE WOMAN IN THE FIFTH TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:30 PM 4:30 PM 6:30 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:30 AM

AL-KOUT.2 THE EXPATRIATE: 2D WON’T BACK DOWN :2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D WON’T BACK DOWN :2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D THE EXPATRIATE: 2D NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:30 PM 2:45 PM 5:15 PM 7:30 PM 10:00 PM 12:15 AM

AL-KOUT.3 HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET THE APPARITION :2D HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET THE APPARITION :2D HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:45 PM 9:45 PM 12:05 AM

AL-KOUT.4 AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D THE WORDS :2D WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM AL SULTAN AL FATIH (Turkish) :2D WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM WA ALAIK YA HABEEB AL SALAM NO SUN+TUE+WED

12:45 PM 3:30 PM 6:00 PM 8:00 PM 10:45 PM 12:45 AM

BAIRAQ-1 TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D TAKEN2 :2D BAIRAQ-2 HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET THE WORDS :2D HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET THE WORDS :2D HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET NO SUN+TUE+WED

1:30 PM 3:30 PM 5:30 PM 7:30 PM 9:30 PM 11:30 PM

1:45 PM 4:00 PM 6:15 PM 8:30 PM 10:30 PM 12:45 AM

Classifieds SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

Required Environmental Scientist / Engineer

DIAL 161 FOR AIRPORT INFORMATION

Airlines JZR QTR JZR JZR ETH RJA GFA UAE ETD FDB MSR RBG QTR KAC THY CLX DHX JZR KAC BAW KAC KAC FDB KAC KAC KAC KAC UAE ABY IRA GFA QTR FDB IRA ETD GFA UAE MEA JZR IRC MSR MSC JZR SYR KAC MSR KAC GFA FDB KAC KAC QTR SVA RJA JZR QTR JZR ETD UAE UAL GFA SVA JZR JZR ABY KAC KAC QTR KAC KAC FDB MSR MSC JZR KAC KAC KAC JAI KAC AXB OMA MEA QTR GFA ALK KAC JZR KLM UAE JZR ETD KAC ABY QTR AIC FDB GFA UAL JZR DLH MSR THY JAI PIA

Arrival Flights on Sunday 14/10/2012 Flt Route 185 DUBAI 148 DOHA 539 CAIRO 267 BEIRUT 620 ADDIS ABABA 642 AMMAN 211 BAHRAIN 853 DUBAI 305 ABU DHABI 67 DUBAI 612 CAIRO 3553 ALEXANDRIA 138 DOHA 544 CAIRO 770 ISTANBUL 792 LUXEMBOURG 170 BAHRAIN 555 ALEXANDRIA 412 MANILA/BANGKOK 157 LONDON 206 ISLAMABAD 382 DELHI 53 DUBAI 302 MUMBAI 332 TRIVANDRUM 352 COCHIN 284 DHAKA 855 DUBAI 125 SHARJAH 615 SHAHRE KORD 223 BAHRAIN 132 DOHA 55 DUBAI 603 SHIRAZ 301 ABU DHABI 213 BAHRAIN 871 DUBAI 404 BEIRUT 165 DUBAI 6801 AHWAZ 618 ALEXANDRIA 401 ALEXANDRIA 561 SOHAG 341 DAMASCUS/ALEPPO 742 DAMMAM 610 CAIRO 1706 MEDINAH 219 BAHRAIN 57 DUBAI 774 RIYADH 538 SOHAG 140 DOHA 500 JEDDAH 640 AMMAN 257 BEIRUT 134 DOHA 535 CAIRO 303 ABU DHABI 857 DUBAI 982 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 215 BAHRAIN 510 RIYADH 177 DUBAI 777 JEDDAH 127 SHARJAH 502 BEIRUT 542 CAIRO 144 DOHA 166 PARIS/ROME 786 JEDDAH 63 DUBAI 624 SOHAG 405 SOHAG 787 RIYADH 618 DOHA 674 DUBAI 102 NEW YORK/LONDON 572 MUMBAI 562 AMMAN 389 KOZHIKODE/MANGALORE 647 MUSCAT 402 BEIRUT 146 DOHA 221 BAHRAIN 229 COLOMBO 514 TEHRAN 481 SABIHA 417 AMSTERDAM 859 DUBAI 135 BAHRAIN 307 ABU DHABI 172 FRANKFURT 129 SHARJAH 136 DOHA 981 CHENNAI/AHMEDABAD 59 DUBAI 217 BAHRAIN 981 BAHRAIN 239 AMMAN 636 FRANKFURT 614 CAIRO 772 ISTANBUL 574 MUMBAI 205 LAHORE

Time 00:15 00:20 00:30 00:50 01:45 02:10 02:20 02:25 02:30 03:10 03:20 03:20 03:25 04:10 04:35 04:55 05:00 06:00 06:15 06:30 07:15 07:30 07:45 07:50 07:55 08:05 08:15 08:25 08:30 08:35 08:40 09:00 09:20 09:25 09:30 10:00 10:45 10:55 11:05 11:10 11:25 12:00 12:25 12:35 13:25 13:30 13:35 13:40 13:45 13:45 14:20 14:25 14:30 14:55 15:00 15:15 16:00 16:35 16:55 17:10 17:20 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 18:00 18:15 18:20 18:40 18:40 18:45 18:55 19:00 19:10 19:20 19:25 19:35 19:35 19:50 19:55 20:10 20:15 20:25 20:35 20:55 20:55 20:55 21:05 21:15 21:15 21:25 21:25 21:30 21:35 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:55 23:10 23:35 23:40 23:50 23:55

Airlines AIC FDB UAL DLH MSR DHX JAI THY ETH UAE FDB RBG ETD MSR QTR QTR JZR RJA JZR GFA THY KAC CLX BAW FDB KAC KAC JZR JZR GFA IRA UAE QTR KAC FDB ETD IRA KAC KAC GFA KAC MEA KAC IRC JZR UAE MSR KAC MSC KAC JZR JZR SYR GFA FDB MSR KAC KAC SVA KAC JZR RJA QTR KAC ETD JZR JZR QTR UAE GFA JZR ABY UAL SVA QTR FDB MSR MSC JZR KAC JAI KAC KAC OMA MEA GFA JZR DHX ALK KLM ABY ETD UAE KAC QTR KAC KAC QTR AXB FDB GFA KAC KAC

Depature Flights on Sunday 14/10/2012 Flt Route 976 GOA/CHENNAI 52 DUBAI 981 WASHINGTON DC DULLES 637 FRANKFURT 615 CAIRO 373 BAHRAIN 573 MUMBAI 773 ISTANBUL 621 ADDIS ABABA 854 DUBAI 68 DUBAI 3554 ALEXANDRIA 306 ABU DHABI 613 CAIRO 139 DOHA 149 DOHA 560 SOHAG 643 AMMAN 164 DUBAI 212 BAHRAIN 771 ISTANBUL 537 SOHAG 792 VIETNAM 156 LONDON 54 DUBAI 1705 MEDINAH 171 FRANKFURT 256 BEIRUT 534 CAIRO 224 BAHRAIN 614 SHAHRE KORD 856 DUBAI 133 DOHA 117 NEW YORK 56 DUBAI 302 ABU DHABI 602 SHIRAZ 773 RIYADH 741 DAMMAM 214 BAHRAIN 541 CAIRO 405 BEIRUT 501 BEIRUT 6802 AHWAZ 776 JEDDAH 872 DUBAI 623 SOHAG 103 LONDON 406 SOHAG 785 JEDDAH 480 SABIHA 176 DUBAI 342 DAMASCUS 220 BAHRAIN 58 DUBAI 611 CAIRO 561 AMMAN 673 DUBAI 503 MEDINAH 617 DOHA 786 RIYADH 641 AMMAN 135 DOHA 513 TEHRAN 304 ABU DHABI 238 AMMAN 538 CAIRO 141 DOHA 858 DUBAI 216 BAHRAIN 134 BAHRAIN 128 SHARJAH 982 BAHRAIN 511 RIYADH 145 DOHA 64 DUBAI 621 ALEXANDRIA 402 ALEXANDRIA 184 DUBAI 361 COLOMBO 571 MUMBAI 283 DHAKA 351 COCHIN 648 MUSCAT 403 BEIRUT 222 BAHRAIN 502 LUXOR 171 BAHRAIN 230 COLOMBO 417 DAMMAM/AMSTERDAM 120 SHARJAH 308 ABU DHABI 860 DUBAI 343 CHENNAI 137 DOHA 301 MUMBAI 205 ISLAMABAD 147 DOHA 390 MANGALORE/KOZHIKODE 60 DUBAI 218 BAHRAIN 411 BANGKOK/MANILA 415 KUALA LUMPUR/JAKARTA

Time 0:05 0:10 0:25 00:30 00:35 00:40 00:50 02:15 02:45 03:45 03:50 04:00 04:05 04:20 04:50 05:40 06:00 06:50 06:55 07:05 07:10 08:05 08:15 08:25 08:25 08:45 08:55 09:00 09:10 09:25 09:35 09:40 10:00 10:00 10:05 10:15 10:25 10:25 10:25 10:45 11:30 11:55 12:00 12:10 12:15 12:20 12:25 12:30 13:00 13:10 13:15 13:20 13:35 14:25 14:25 14:30 14:40 15:05 15:45 15:45 15:50 15:50 16:15 16:25 17:20 17:30 17:40 17:45 18:05 18:20 18:20 18:25 18:30 18:35 19:20 19:25 19:55 20:00 20:05 20:20 20:35 20:45 21:05 21:10 21:15 21:35 21:45 21:50 21:55 22:05 22:10 22:20 22:25 22:30 22:35 22:40 22:45 23:10 23:10 23:15 23:30 23:40 23:50

Directorate General of Civil Aviation Home Page (www.kuwait-airport.com.kw)

A market leading environmental consultancy Services Company has an opening for a position of fresh graduate environmental scientist/engineer to join a multidiscipline current team work. The minimum requirements as following:

1. Holding science or engineering degree 2. Excellent English reporting and communications skills 3. Must have valid Kuwait driving license 4. Transferable residency

EIArecruitments@yahoo.com ACCOMMODATION Accommodation available, near Jabriya Indian School, Jabriya. Central A/C flat, decent Muslim couple or two working ladies only. Call 66795253. (C 4173) 10-10-2012 Sharing accommodation in Khaifan bloc 4 from Nov 1st in one room, KD 70 only for one working lady. Contact: 60413536.

8-10-2012 Apartment to share decent working ladies, Salmiyah, restaurant street, exactly behind Platinum. Contact 66920590. (C 4161) 7-10-2012 MATRIMONIAL Marthoma parents of male (29) Keralite engineer working in Kuwait (170cm, fair) invites proposals from parents of engineering graduates/ post graduates of other fields. M4M 2804610.

Contact: propmt1983@gmail.com 14-10-2012 Proposals invited for a girl, God-fearing (Marthomite, 30yrs/160 cm) born and educated in Kuwait and Mangalore, MDS Doctor presently working in India, from Post Graduate boys Mathomite/CSI, God-fearing and having good family background. Email: mathewjacob201@hotmail.com (C 4153) Marthoma parents working in Kuwait invite proposals for daughter 25/162,

M.Sc Biotech, from parents of professionally qualified boys (Marthoma/ CSI/ Orthodox). If interested contact: jlovedale87@yahoo.com (C 4175) 11-10-2012 24 year old daughter BSc passed Pakistani/ Canadian dual citizen. Highly qualified professionals from Pakistan age up to 29 years can contact at email: d3sak@yahoo.com (C 4172) 9-10-2012

FOR SALE Complete household furniture, crockery, electronics, salon items, going for a give -away price. Call: 50693289. (C 4167) 9-10-2012 Box delivery van Nissan high roof, 2008 model.

Lancer 2009 GLX. Phone: 66052331. (C 4166) 8-10-2012 Used 2 sofa bed, color brown, good condition, in Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh. Price each KD 15. Call 66762737.

(C 4163) 6-10-2012 Galant 1997 model, blue color, good condition, A/C, price KD 400, passing valid for one year. Contact: 96975726.

SITUATION VACANT Live-in maid wanted for a small family in Farwaniya.

Full time.

Contact: 50833103.

10-10-2012

REQUIRED

DRIVERS General driving license / Private driving license Nationality: Egyptian - Indian - Nepalese - Sri Lankan - Transferable residence

Call: 22457536 - 22452829 - 22451217 ?W`_OP ?cPO`OY 3Z =OPSS` Eb`SSb 5]`b]PO F]eS` ESQ]\R ĸ]eS` ?W`_OP ?cPO`OY 3Z =OPSS` Eb`SSb 5]`b]PO F]eS` bVS ķ`ab `]c\R

Email: mailalraed@alraed-security.com CHANGE OF NAME I, Vita Quirino Monteiro, holder of Indian Passport No: E8364338 have changed my name to Vita De Jesus Maria Monteiro as per gazette No X - 18770.

(C 4168) 14-10-2012 I, Mr Achankunju Baby, son of Mr Baby Mathew, Ancy Villa, Bharanickavu P.O., Alappuzha District, Kerala, holder of Indian Passport No: J4441990 hereby changed my name to Mathew Achankunju Baby. (C 4174) 10-10-2012

SITUATION WANTED Australian Engineer with two-Engineering (Civil/ Elect) & four Master Degrees (Engg/Prog Mgmt/ Education/MBA). 23 years experience in Dubai/ Qatar/ Australia, looking project Mgr / QHSE Mgr job. Contact: 65695468.

TUITION A 22 years (moderator and examiner) highly experienced Math, teacher in IB, SAT ’s, IGCSE available.

Contact: 66920590.

112 Prayer timings Fajr:

04:30

Duhr:

11:34

Asr:

14:51

Maghrib:

17:19

Isha:

18:35

GOVERNMENT WEB SITES Kuwait Parliament www.majlesalommah.net

The Public Institution for Social Security www.pifss.gov.kw

Ministry of Interior www.moi.gov.kw

Public Authority of Industry www.pai.gov.kw

Public Authority for Civil Information www.paci.gov.kw

Prisoners of War Committee www.pows.org.kw

Kuwait News Agency www.kuna.net.kw

Ministry of Foreign Affairs www.mofa.gov.kw

Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affair www.islam.gov.kw

Kuwait Municipality www.municipality.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Oil) www.moo.gov.kw

Kuwait Electronic Government www.e.gov.kw

Ministry of Energy (Electricity and Water) www.energy.govt.kw

Ministry of Finance www.mof.gov.kw

Public Authority for Housing Welfare www.housing.gov.kw

Ministry of Commerce and Industry www.moci.gov.kw

Ministry of Justice www.moj.gov.kw

Ministry of Education www.moe.edu.kw

Ministry of Communications www.moc.kw

Ministry of Information www.moinfo.gov.kw

Supreme Council for Planning and Development www.scpd.gov.kw

Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation www.awqaf.org

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

i n f o r m at i o n For labor-related inquiries and complaints: Call MSAL hotline 128 GOVERNORATE Sabah Hospital

24812000

Amiri Hospital

22450005

Maternity Hospital

24843100

Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital

25312700

Chest Hospital

24849400

Farwaniya Hospital

24892010

Adan Hospital

23940620

Ibn Sina Hospital

24840300

Al-Razi Hospital

24846000

Physiotherapy Hospital

24874330/9

Kaizen center

25716707

Roudha

22517733

Adhaliya

22517144

Khaldiya

24848075

Keifan

24849807

Shamiya

24848913

Shuwaikh

24814507

Abdullah Salim

22549134

Al-Nuzha

22526804

Industrial Shuwaikh

24814764

Al-Khadissiya

22515088

Dasmah

22532265

Bneid Al-Ghar

22531908

Al-Shaab

22518752

Al-Kibla

22459381

Ayoun Al-Kibla

PHARMACY

ADDRESS

Ahmadi

Sama Safwan Abu Halaifa Danat Al-Sultan

Fahaeel Makka St Abu Halaifa-Coastal Rd Mahboula Block 1, Coastal Rd

23915883 23715414 23726558

Jahra

Modern Jahra Madina Munawara

Jahra-Block 3 Lot 1 Jahra-Block 92

24575518 24566622

Capital

Ahlam Khaldiya Coop

Fahad Al-Salem St Khaldiya Coop

22436184 24833967

Farwaniya

New Shifa Ferdous Coop Modern Safwan

Farwaniya Block 40 Ferdous Coop Old Kheitan Block 11

24734000 24881201 24726638

Tariq Hana Ikhlas Hawally & Rawdha Ghadeer Kindy Ibn Al-Nafis Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Salmiya-Amman St Hawally-Beirut St Hawally & Rawdha Coop Jabriya-Block 1A Jabriya-Block 3B Salmiya-Hamad Mubarak St Mishrif Coop Salwa Coop

25726265 25647075 22625999 22564549 25340559 25326554 25721264 25380581 25628241

Hawally

ST TAT TE OF KUW K WA AIT

el.: 161 Te

DIRECTORA AT TE GENERAL GENE OF CIVIL AV VIA ATION T METEOROLOGICAL DEP PA ARTMENT

WWW.MET.GOV V..KW

Hot with moderate to fresh north westerly wind, with speed of 22 - 42 km/h causing raising dust over open areas

BY Y NIGHT:

Fair with light to moderate freshening gradually at times north westerly wind, with speed of 15 - 40 km/h and some scattered clouds will appear No Current Warnings arnin a

WARNING A

39 °C

27 °C

22451082

KUW WA AIT AIRPOR RT

39 °C

23 °C

Al-Mirqab

22456536

NUW WA AISEEB

41 °C

23 °C

Sharq

22465401

WAFRA A

44 °C

25 °C

Salmiya

25746401

SALMI

42 °C

23 °C

ABDAL LY

Jabriya

25316254

41 °C

23 °C

JAL ALIY YA AH

43 °C

23 °C

Maidan Hawally

25623444

FA AILAKA

40 °C

26 °C

Bayan

25388462

AHMADI POR RT

35 °C

29 °C

Mishref

25381200

UMM AL-MARADEM

35 °C

30 °C

W.Hawally

22630786

WARBA A A - BUBY YA AN

36 °C

21 °C

Sabah

24810221

Jahra

24770319

New Jahra

24575755

ST TATION T

West Jahra

24772608

South Jahra

Sunday

14/10

Monday

15/10

24775066

Tuesday

North Jahra

24775992

Wednesday e

North Jleeb

24311795

Al-Ardhiya

24884079

24710044

Fintas

23900322

13/10/2012 0000 UTC

Temperatures WEA AT THER

N.Kheitan

SFC. CHART

4 DA AY YS FORECAST DA ATE T

24719048

DA AY

MAX.

MIN.

Wind Direction

Wind Speed

hot + raising dust

38 °C

20 °C

NW

22 - 42 km/h

relatively hot

38 °C

19 °C

NW

15 - 38 km/h

16/10

relatively hot

39 °C

18 °C

NW

15 - 35 km/h

17/10

relatively hot

39 °C

18 °C

NW

15 - 35 km/h

RECORDED YESTERDA AY AT KUW WAIT A AIRPORT

PRA RA AY YER TIMES Fajr

04:30

MAX. Temp.

43 °C

Sunrise

05:49

MIN. Temp.

22 °C

Zuhr

11:34

MAX. RH

79 %

Asr

14:52

MIN. RH

05 %

Sunset

17:21

MAX. Wiind

S 28 km/h

Isha

18:37

TOT TAL AL RAIINF FA ALL L IN 24 HR.

00 mm

All times are local time unless otherwise stated.

PRIVATE CLINICS Ophthalmologists Dr. Abidallah Al-Mansoor 25622444 Dr. Samy Al-Rabeea 25752222 Dr. Masoma Habeeb 25321171 Dr. Mubarak Al-Ajmy 25739999 Dr. Mohsen Abel 25757700 Dr Adnan Hasan Alwayl 25732223 Dr. Abdallah Al-Baghly 25732223 Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Dr. Ahmed Fouad Mouner 24555050 Ext 510 Dr. Abdallah Al-Ali 25644660 Dr. Abd Al-Hameed Al-Taweel 25646478 Dr. Sanad Al-Fathalah 25311996 Dr. Mohammad Al-Daaory 25731988 Dr. Ismail Al-Fodary 22620166 Dr. Mahmoud Al-Booz 25651426 General Practitioners Dr. Mohamme Y Majidi 24555050 Ext 123 Dr. Yousef Al-Omar 24719312 Dr. Tarek Al-Mikhazeem 23926920 Dr. Kathem Maarafi 25730465 Dr. Abdallah Ahmad Eyadah 25655528 Dr. Nabeel Al-Ayoobi 24577781 Dr. Dina Abidallah Al-Refae 25333501 Urologists Dr. Ali Naser Al-Serfy 22641534 Dr. Fawzi Taher Abul 22639955 Dr. Khaleel Abidallah Al-Awadi 22616660 Dr. Adel Al-Hunayan FRCS (C) 25313120 Dr. Leons Joseph 66703427 Psychologists /Psychotherapists

Paediatricians

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36

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

LIFESTYLE G o s s i p

Bobbi Kristina Brown engaged to ‘adopted’ brother he aspiring actress - the daughter of Bobby Brown and the late Whitney Houston - surprises her dismayed family with the news in a preview from her upcoming reality show ‘Houstons: On Our Own’, nervously telling them: “We’re engaged!”

Nick was informally adopted by Whitney when he was 12 and the pair were raised as brother and sister. They were “always close” growing up but their relationship changed as they got older and they sought comfort in each other after Whitney’s death in February and started living like a couple in Atlanta. The reality series will follow the pair and other family members - Whitney’s brother Gary, sister-in-law (and the singer’s former manager) Patricia

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Houston and Bobbi’s grandmother Cissy Houston have coped with life since the tragic passing of the ‘I Will Always Love You’. Cissy recently announced her concern for her 19-year-old granddaughter Bobbi if she inherits the multi-million dollar inheritance left to her by her mother. Cissy fears the teenager will be corrupted by the “negative influences” in her life if she gets the cash, but it would seem that Bobbi Kristina is out to cause drama within her family.

Bobbi Kristina adds in the promo for ‘Houstons: On Our Own’: “They wanna see us fail. I’ve got one thing to say, ‘You won’t!’ “

Nick Lachey names son after road sign ick Lachey named his son Camden after seeing the word on a road sign. The TV star and his wife Vanessa were driving to her obstetrician’s office on Camden Drive, when Nick had a flash of inspiration and suggested they name their son who is now one month old - after the road. Nick told People magazine: “It’s kind of a funny story. I’ve always liked the name Colin.

We thought that Colin would be the name. And John is my dad’s name. But as we got further into it, I learned that Vanessa wasn’t a big fan of the name Colin, so we started looking for another ‘C’ name. “We didn’t really know anyone else named Camden. It was such a neat name. We fell in love with it and decided on it five or six months ago.” The 98 Degrees singer - who is best known for starring in MTV’s ‘Newlyweds’ with ex-wife Jessica Simpson - is loving every minute of parenthood and doesn’t even mind changing dirty nappies because it makes him feel closer to his son. He boasted: “Diapers are no problem! I had a little training with the niece and nephew with diaper duty, and yeah, I’ve got no problem changing diapers. It makes for good bonding moments with me and the little guy.”

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Leona Lewis thinks she was an animal in a past life he ‘Trouble’ singer is an ardent animal rights campaigner and this is inspired by her belief she previously lived as a neglected creature in another life. Leona told Time Out London magazine: “A part of me feels like I was an animal in my past life that wasn’t treated very nicely. And I do believe that every creature has a soul and has feelings.” When probed about what chickens feel, the star mused: “Pain. I’m sure they feel sadness, if they’re cooped up in a little cage. Fear and pain and suffering is not OK for any being to feel intentionally at the hands of us.” The ‘Bleeding Love’ hitmaker also revealed she likes to see the best in people even if they don’t have good intentions, and her compassionate streak and “fairytale” outlook has

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Adele doesn’t want

Taylor Swift doesn’t want to be one of Hollywood’s party girls

to raise her child in London he singer is due to give birth to her first baby in the coming weeks and she and boyfriend Simon Konecki are renovating a home in Hove, Southern England, where they can be left in peace. Adele was raised in Tottenham, north London, but she doesn’t want to stay in the UK capital with her child because it is too much like a “goldfish bowl” because of her fame. A source told People magazine: “Neither she nor Simon want to bring up the baby in London. She says it’s like a goldfish bowl. They want to keep a low profile when the baby is born. I think we’ll see even less of her then. “Despite her millions, she is going to give the baby the most important thing of all, love. The baby is very special to have such a special lady as its mother.” Adele just released the theme song to the new James Bond film ‘Skyfall’ but she has no plans to do anymore work while she is in the latter stages of her pregnancy. Instead, the 24-year-old singer intends to spend the next few weeks at home. The source added: “She is totally laying low and nesting. She’s enjoyed picking out furniture for the baby’s room and trying to choose names.”

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Christina Aguilera wants to ‘empower’ women he 31-year-old ‘Your Body’ singer - who has attracted a huge amount of publicity for her current weight - insists she is comfortable in her own skin and hopes her struggle will “empower” other women. She told The Sun newspaper: “I’m always in support of someone who is willing and comfortable in their own skin enough to embrace it. “Embracing your body is so important, especially as a woman. In this business we are so analysed and judged. “It’s wonderful to be in a position and have that side of myself that I can latch on to and empower other women. The older you get, the more important it is to embrace your body and your sexuality.” ‘The Voice’ judge also opened up about her four-year-old son Max and the pressures of juggling motherhood and her career. She said: “I can wear different hats — for example, the artist hat. When I’m on that stage and I’ve been in the wardrobe getting dressed up to play a character, I am living out a specific moment in a song. “That hat is very different to the one I wear when I go home at night and I tuck my son in and I’m singing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” “It’s a crazy thing, it’s an interesting road he has ahead of him, but as I said, I try to keep all the different hats I wear very different so that Mummy’s hat is very different from party hat. It’s a real balancing act for me. “I’m an artist first and foremost but Max is my son, four-and-a-half years old, and means the absolute world to me.

I want him to grow up knowing that I stayed true to myself as an artist and that was my passion in life. Hopefully that will inspire him to make goals that he’s passionate about.” —Bangshowbiz

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landed her in trouble in the past. Leona said: “I feel like I’ve lived quite a sheltered life, like my mum and dad were quite protective of me. I’ve learned a lot in the past few years that not everyone has good intentions, and I always want to see the best in people. “I won’t ever let it make me jaded, because I’ll always think that there is some good in everyone.

Even the worst person. “I do live in a fairyland half of my life. And I have been burned a couple of times because of that. I feel like, as I get older I just get stronger and I know myself more. I’m in my twenties... It’s a time of self-discovery.”

he 22-year-old singer - who is dating Conor Kennedy and previously romanced Jake Gyllenhaal and John Mayer - admits she’s not a huge drinker and usually prefers to sip on sweeter non-alcoholic beverages.

She told Esquire magazine: “If it doesn’t taste like candy or sparkles, I usually don’t drink it.” The “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ singer is gearing up for the release of her new album ‘Red’ which she says is much more up-beat then her previous records. “This is breaking news, but there are a few happy songs on this album. I do explore the emotion every once in a while. I’d like to think you don’t stop being creative once you get happy. My ultimate goal is to end up being happy. Most of the time.” The country singer previously spoke about how happy she is in her new relationship with Conor and admitted she “falls hard” in love. She said: “The way I look at love is you have to follow it, and fall hard, if you fall hard. You have to forget about what everyone else thinks. “It has to be an us-against-the-world mentality. You have to make it work by prioritising it, and by falling in love really fast, without thinking too hard. If I think too hard about a relationship I’ll talk myself out of it. ...I have rules for a lot of areas of my life. Love is not going to be one of them.”

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37

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

LIFESTYLE F e a t u r e s

Thai, Lebanese films low-budget, experimental production from Thailand and a gripping Lebanese drama shared the main award at Asia’s largest film festival, which drew to a close yesterday. Jurors for the New Currents award at the Busan International Film Festival described first-time Thai director Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit’s “36” as “breathtaking” while praising the “extraordinary sympathy” director Maryam Najafi was able to draw from

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share top award at Busan fest

film it was in a conference room for about 20 people so I was honoured to be invited to Busan,” said Nawapol.

“My story’s about how many different ways there are to look at the way we live our lives.”

The New Currents jury, headed by the veteran Hungarian director Bela Tarr, celebrated Nawapol’s work for creating his “own film language”. “The jury found especially that the writing was breathtaking, artful, economic,

A general view shows a crowd of people attending the closing ceremony of the 17th Busan International film Festival in Busan yesterday. —AFP her audience throughout her entry “Kayan”.

Both productions receive $30,000 for the award, which offers two first prizes and is open to first- or second-time Asian filmmakers. Nawapol’s film-made for just $20,000 — is set around 36 static images and tells the story of a young woman struggling to relate to her own memories. “The first time I screened this

and never included an unnecessary word,” they said in a statement.

Praise came also for first-time director Najafi’s sympathetic portrayal of a Lebanese woman trying to juggle the twin demands of business and family in a foreign country and for the filmmaker’s ability “to go from emotion to analysis in the acute portrait of a woman

fighting to keep a new life going”. “We did everything you are not supposed to do with this film-from using child actors to borrowing sets-but we persevered,” said Najafi.

The 10-day BIFF closed yesterday with the official awards presentation and the world premiere of Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s comedy-drama “Television”, which focuses on a clash of generations in a rural village. Festival organisers said more than 220,000 people had attended this year’s 17th edition, a record for the event.

While film fans were treated to 304 films from 75 countries-with 93 world premieresmuch of the talk surrounding the festival was about how strong the local representation was this year. The world premiere of the Chung Ji-Young-directed “National Security”, which offers a harrowing look at state-sponsored torture in the 1980s, brought universal praise from festival-goers and film critics.

The director said he had deliberately set the release of the film to come before December’s presidential elections in South Korea. Park Geun-Hye, the daughter of South Korea’s former military leader General Park Chung-Hee, who was blamed for implementing government-backed torture during his reign in the 1960s and 1970s, is running in the election.

The world premiere of another local production also grabbed festival-goers’ attention.

Independent director O Muel’s low budget, black-and-white action-drama “Jiseul” is set in the late 1940s on the island of Jeju. It tells the story of a group of islanders who try to hold out in a cave against government forces and the production picked up the NETPAC award for the promotion of Asian cinema and also an award handed out by the festival’s team of citizen reviewers. The festival also featured the rare screening of a film from North Korea, with two sold-out sessions greeting the romantic comedy “Comrade Kim Goes Flying”. —AFP

Bangladeshi director beams into Busan with ‘Television’ angladeshi director Mostofa Sarwar Farooki were my educational process. It was like I had jumped in the water to learn how to swim.” cried when told that his film about a village What makes Farooki’s work different is its conelder’s fight against the influence of televitemporary take on the lives and troubles of sion would this year close Asia’s biggest film festiyoung Bangladeshis, as opposed to the val. “My eyes were full of tears,” said Farooki, who Bollywood copies or pirated films that dominate was in Seoul working on post production when its cinema. His gritty drama “Third Person Singular news came through that the world premier of his Number” (2009) was seen by film “Television” would conmore than one million people clude the 17th Busan in his homeland, said the International Film Festival. director. Farooki said “People don’t know Bangladeshi cinema was curBangladesh as a film-making rently undergoing a major country so it really means a upheaval with production lot, not only for me but for all numbers more than halved the young Bangladeshi filmover the past decade from 80 makers. I knew everyone to around 35 films per year. would be celebrating.” It will “We are seeing a transitional be the first time a process,” he said. “But real Bangladeshi film has closed filmmakers are coming in and the festival, an honour previthey are making real films, ously taken by some of Asia’s not just trying to copy most acclaimed directors Bollywood.” including Hong Kong’s Wong Critics who caught early Kar-Wai in 2000 with “In the preview screenings of Mood for Love” and China’s “Television” in Busan were left Zhang Yimou with “Not One charmed by the comedy-draLess” in 1999. It also serves as ma, and impressed by considerable recognition for Farooki’s talents. The film the 39-year-old director who has just four films under his Pedestrians walk past a billboard opens with a local elder belt, and who says his path showing Bangladeshi director (Shahir Kazi Huda) trying to into the industry was forged Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s movie enforce a ban on televisions in by a combination of accident “Television” at the 17th Busan his village, and expands to and desire. “The first short film International Film Festival yes- touch on the clash between generations and their interI made was to impress a girl,” ests.

Farooki told AFP on the side- terday. —AFP “It’s a conflict between the traditional and lines of the festival. “But then she left me, so I got modern world and this takes place everywhere,” involved with a new relationship and that was said Farooki of his film. The director said his own with cinema.” Having first tried to sate his artistic cinematic education had come, ironically, thanks ambitions by dabbling in writing and theatre, to the rampant piracy that has given young Farooki came to international attention in 2003 Bangladeshis the opportunity to see films from all with “Bachelor”, which travelled to festivals in over the world. “Thanks to piracy we really started Rome and Mumbai. “I tried so many things but I to learn about film language,” said Farooki. “But failed. I was a terrible student,” he said. “I never no one thought we could make films, or that if we made it to university. I was a drop out. I tend to did, that people would come to see them.” —AFP learn through experience so my first two films

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Perfumerie d’Exception smells unique in Kuwait

By Nawara Fattahova he lovers of unique and original perfumes are welcome to visit the Perfumerie d’Exception located at Al-Hamra Mall in Kuwait City, which has been opened but will be officially launched next month.

Last week, they launched two new perfume brands which are exclusively sold at their store only. It’s the Frapin and Odin perfumes.

Frapin is presented in Kuwait and the Middle East for the first time, and is sold exclusively at Perfumerie

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d’Exception. It’s a limited edition with high concentrates. David Frosserd and Louise Orieux are visiting the store which is the first in the GCC region - to train the staff. These perfumes are different from what’s available in the market. “It’s completely different from the commercial perfumes. Our collection is limited and different. We want our customers to feel unique. Those using commercial perfumes can find thousands of other people using the same perfumeas they’re common,” David Frosserd, the creator of the perfume along with Frapin family told the

KUWAIT: (From left to right) David Frosserd, Louise Orieux, and Lester J O Dedman are pictured at the Perfumerie d’Exception at Al-Hamra Mall in Kuwait City. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat

Frapin is pictured with David Frosserd in the background.

Odin perfume is pictured.

Kuwait Times.

“Also commercial perfumes are very similar. So when you enter a perfumery, you will be confused with the perfumes as they all smell similar. This is due to the market test that the popular brands do. So after they make a perfume, they take samples to the perfumeries to get feedback and compare the demand of customers for that perfume, whether it’s near the customer’s taste or not. Our perfumes were made by artists, so they are unique from others. We call them niche brands and their production is limited,” he added.

“We use natural aromas in small doses with good quality for the best customers. Our perfumes allow you to be unique. They are for both men and women and some are unisex. They all come in one size (100 ml), and have different prices depending on the ingredients used,” said David Frosserd.

Frapin perfumes are sold in specific places only. “We have waited before launching it in the Middle East. We launched in at the Perfumerie d’Exception which is only selling special brands from similar quality as our products. A second and final branch will be probably launched in Kuwait soon, then we will expand to the GCC countries,” he explained.

The shop is specially prepared for VIP customers. “We have 24 brands in our store, primarily French brands of perfumes and candles. The staff is highly trained, to represent the level of quality of our unique products.

There is a comfortable sofa to sit on and try the perfumes, on both paper and skin, as it smells different from one person to another when it comes in contact with skin. The customer can then take time to decide,” said Lester J O Dedman, COO of Perfumerie d’Exception.

Frapin is one of the oldest French families. They practice two trades, namely beverages and perfumes, and it was established in 1270. The cognac house was established in the heart of Grand Champagne in the region of Chateau de Fontpinot in 1270. It has remained the family business for 20 generations, and today owners of Frapin are Genevieve Frapin and her husband, Max Cointreau. Their daughter Beatrice Cointreau introduced Frapin fragrance line in 2002, with their first perfume ‘1270’ named after the year when the cognac house was founded.

Designer Frapin has eight perfumes. The earliest edition was created in 2002 and the newest is from 2012. Frapin fragrances were made in collaboration with perfumers Beatrice Cointreau, Bertrand Duchaufour, Jeanne-Marie Faugier and MarcAntoine Cortichiatto.

Odin perfumes are from New York, USA. “These are most trendy in the States. VIP customers buy it such as Leonardo Di Caprio, Daniel Redcliff, John Santos, Harry Potter, and others.

Also the Odin candles are all made from high quality wax and fragrance,” said Dedman.

KUWAIT: Odissi dancers from Bhuvaneswar perform during UAE Exchange Soorya program at Marina Hall, Jleeb on Thursday.

Mohiniyattam’s current global name Sunanda Nair chats with people after her performance at Marina Hall, Jleeb last Thursday. Huston based Nair, 48, said every time she tries to better herself by rigorous practise.

Far away from home, yet close through dance Two expat dancers globe-trot bridging cultural gaps

By Sunil Cherian dissi and Mohiniyattam, two of the classical dance forms from India, met in Kuwait last weekend.

Chances are rare that these two art forms come across each other since Odissi, the dance form from India’s northern state Orissa, and Kerala originated Mohiniyattam stand wide apart in layers of expressions and costumes. The two shared one stage, almost competed inadvertently, last Thursday at Marina Hall, Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh as part of the UAE Exchange Soorya program.

The unexpected item of that evening was not the eye-feasting dance or the ear-soothing music - Soorya is famous for organizing classical art forms - but the meeting of cultures, borders and statuses. Odissi artiste Isha Satapathi, 26, raised in Orissa’s capital city Bhuvaneswar, is now settled in Dubai, working as an accountant at a shipping company and running her dance school, a branch of Gunjan Dance Academy, Cuttack, her Alma matter. After 17 years of training as an Odissi dancer, she also took a degree in Commerce ‘to balance dance and life’. That is the beautiful thing about learning dance, she said, that keeping a balance becomes a habit in you as dance requires a fine balance between body and mind. So far she has travelled to 20 countries with her Odissi item. Odissi, remarkable for its sinuous postures, has the unique quality of having the concept of threefold bending of the limbs that gives the look of flowing and static at the same time. The performer often reminds us of the temple sculptures. “I’m happy when people, foreigners as well as Indians, appreciate me for introducing to them a dance called Odissi”, Satapathi said.

Sunanda Nair, Mohiniyattam’s most famous current global name, gave out such a happiness inducing performance on Thursday evening as the Jleeb Shuyoukh audience was a mix of people from south and north of India, diplomats from various embassies and a few art enthusiasts from Kuwait. Nair has been living in Huston over the past 12 years but insists an Indian ambience at home

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and in her dance school, Sunanda’s Performing Arts, Huston. “I tell my students”, she said, “You are in America. But come with duppatta, not jeans”. Dance is not something you learn as a skill. You have to live it, she said. After a performance that required 13 types of head movements and an equal share of dancing and acting, she thanked people who came to her and said, ‘Mind bowling performance! And you enjoyed your dance movements too.’ She continued to sit in the auditorium draped in a shawl covering her costume - a small blouse, a dou-

because of its sensual elements and was banned in the temples for a while. Later when Kalamandalam, Kerala’s classical art forms institute started the Mohiniyattam course, no students registered. Poet Vallathol is credited with raising the level of the dance form by discarding the sensual elements from Mohiniyattam.

An art form that could have been dead because of cultural barriers is very much alive today by the same culture that is broadening its barriers by its balanced steps. The youngsters at the

Odissi dancers Shivangi Mahapatra, Ananya and Isha Satapathi are seen backstage after their group Odissi performance at Marina Hall, Jleeb on Thursday. The artistes from Orissa’s Bhuvaneswar performed a Ganesh Vandana, homage to Lord Ganesh and a group pallavi based on Saveri raga. ble layered white sari with a golden border, originally designed by the Travancore king Swathi Thirunal.

Mohiniyattam, literally the dance of Mohini the seductress, took certain elements from other south Indian dance forms like Bharathanatyam and Kathakali. As a performing art, this dance was popularized by devadasis, the temple dancers. For a long time Mohiniyattam was considered taboo

Marina Hall seemed thoroughly enjoyed probably unaware of the fact that the classical art forms were once the privilege of wealthy and royal families.

“Next time we might come up with an integration of different dance forms.”

Soorya Kuwait chapter head Pancily Varkey said.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

lifestyle F a s h i o n

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n side-by-side dressing rooms, running buddies and best friends Kristin Lewicki and Dara Sparella tried on, modeled and mulled over matching outfits to wear in Sunday’s Chicago Marathon - bright pink running bras under “creamsicle pop”-colored stretchy workout tops, heather-

Newton running shoes are displayed in the shoe department at Deka, a women’s activewear store in Chicago, Illinois. — MCT gray warm-up hoodies and compression running tights. More than an hour later, the women, both 33, emerged from Lululemon, a women’s sportswear shop, having spent about $400 each.

“You gotta do something, go out in fashion,” Lewicki said. Sparella added that, “No matter what size you are, the Lululemon stuff looks good.” In the five years she has been shopping at Lululemon,

Lewicki became such a devotee that even though she didn’t need to, she took a 16-hour-a-week job in August at one of the retailer’s locations. “The whole company spoke to me,” Lewicki said.

Apparently there are a lot of women who have no trouble spending nearly $100, and sometimes more, for a pair of workout pants they think will make them look stylish whether they’re jogging or running errands. Last year, activewear sales increased 6.7 percent from 2010, compared with women’s apparel gains in 2011 of 3.1 percent, according to research firm NPD Group, a market research firm based in Port Washington, NY. Canada’s 13-year-old Lululemon Athletica Inc is the driving force in the segment, operating nearly 200 stores in the US and Canada, with sales last year topping $1 billion, up from $711 million the year before. Retail experts describe its customers as affluent, driven, active and fit, an apt description for Lewicki and Sparella.

Despite their busy lives - Sparella is a manager at a retail store and Lewicki is in nursing school the Chicago residents spend much of their offhours running, strength-training and cycling, along with doing some yoga. In December, they’ll run another marathon in Honolulu after nearly a month of detoxing with smoothies, juice and veggies.

Their Saturday routine has them up by 4 am for a 14- to 23-mile run, followed by an hourlong fitness class. The women said they like to wind down with veggie juice followed by “girl talk” and green tea at Starbucks. Sparella, who is soon to wed, jokingly said she’s so busy that she gave her fiance an invitation to the wedding and told him to show up.

Lululemon’s fitness-whisperer mojo is aspirational - brand gurus compare its cultlike following and gangbusters growth to Apple Inc. Launched in 1998 by Chairman Dennis “Chip” Wilson, Vancouver-based Lululemon shuns billboards and commercials in favor of a more grass-roots

approach: free Sunday morning yoga classes, running groups and community billboards in stores.

Its sales associates are known as “educators” who aim to know customers by name.

Their fitted workout pants, which start at $82 but go as high as $128 and are known for boosting derrieres, sucking in stomachs and giving the illusion of sleek legs, have made evangelists of customers who proselytize to friends, family and strangers about the apparel’s fit and durability.

Many customers post photos of themselves wearing the activewear on blogs, Facebook and Twitter.

“They learned the best lesson of all very quickly on: With women, word of mouth is more powerful than any advertising buy,” said Marissa Vosper, a senior strategist at New York-based brand consultancy Wolff Olins. Lululemon has succeeded, experts say, because it targeted early-adopter women.

For years, category leaders like Nike Inc. and athletic apparel maker Under Armour focused on specialized materials for function and performance for their sports clothing. Lululemon and rivals like Athleta, a unit of Gap Inc, and Lucy, owned by VF Corp, have enhanced the concept with fashion.

Alameda, Calif-based Lucy is revamping its brand in hopes of capturing seven kinds of customers, said President Mark Bryden, including superfit “proud peacocks” who have “good guns on their arms,” and tend to take the front row at yoga and exercise classes; the “yummy mommy,” who exercises her way through her child-rearing years; and the “enthusiast,” who despite a busy career makes working out an integral part of her daily routine.

Bryden, who joined the company in January, is rehabbing stores, changing the company’s advertising strategy and relaunching its website with the aim of boosting sales 25 to 30 percent over the next three to five years. Lucy, which sells workout pants in the $70 to $100 range, has 57 stores,

including six in the Chicago area, and total sales of less than $100 million.

Some upstarts in the segment are even opening shops in Lululemon’s shadows, hoping to sop up business. A little over a month ago, Deka, an Atlanta-based high-end activewear retailer, set up shop across from Lululemon at a mall in downtown Chicago. “Why not be near them or next to them so you increase the chances of them (shoppers) finding your store by chance?” said owner Jim Whitlow.

Deka’s “sweet spot,” he said, are women in their 60s who have sophisticated taste, travel frequently and shun the dowdy aging-woman look, Whitlow said. Deka customers, he said, are willing to shell out hundreds for fancy activewear designed by luxury apparel makers Stella McCartney and Yohji Yamamoto as well as cashmere sweaters, dresses and stretch pants.

Mass retailers are angling to get in on the action too. Athleta also has opened an outlet a few blocks from Lululemon on Southport. It sells yoga clothing and “to-fro” dresses at similar price points to Lululemon. Gap also recently relaunched its GapFit line of sports bras and workout pants, which cost about one-third less than Lululemon’s.

Target is in the game, too, with its popular C9 by Champion line offering pants priced between $21 and $55. Now Lululemon is aiming to capture an even younger clientele. Earlier this year the company opened a showroom in Chicago dedicated to Ivivva, its activewear line for girls age 6 to 14. The clothing is priced about 30 percent less than the adult womenswear but uses similar fabrics and styling. — MCT

Models display creations by designer Hiromichi Ochiai of Japan during Facetasm 2013 spring and summer collection in Tokyo yesterday. Tokyo Fashion Week runs until October 20. — AFP

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

lifestyle F a s h i o n

These photos shows the Alexander Wang Spring 2013 collection being modeled during Fashion Week in New York. — AP photos

Models display bridal wear during a bridal fashion show in Ahmadabad, India. — AP

This photo shows a model wearing jewelry during the presentation of the Rodarte Spring 2013 collection.

This photo shows a model wearing a creation part of the Prada Women’s Spring-Summer 2013 fashion collection.

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the runway, and, really, bigger clutches. We’ve learned not everything fits in the cute little ones.”

Other tips to bring spring runway style to your fall closet: Consider clutches that also have a removable longerlength shoulder strap. It’s crisp and clean without it, but add the strap and you capture a softer, retro vibe that’s likely to move forward through next year. “I think the hard-edge bags are winding down,” Rotkiewicz says.

The good news about the “power-trip” shoes is that while they amp up sex appeal, they are “not stilettos on steroids,” says Stephenson. A lower, kitten heel actually help tame what otherwise would be too severe a look.

Seemingly flawless and perfect skin is as easy as finding a good moisturizer, maybe one with a slightly yellow tint, and an effective concealer so you don’t look tired, says Brown, who did the makeup for the Holmes & Yang and Rachel Roy presentations, among others. “The skin isn’t flat and it’s not dewy - it’s just perfect,” she says.

What seemed really new was cobalt-blue eyeliner, and “it’s not the mild navy that you’re not sure if it’s blue or black,” Wells says. “It’s a little startling but it is good looking.”

Overdraw matte lipstick just a little bit, extending the lip line, suggests Wells. Red is actually easy to work with because you can really see the lines, she adds. Be mindful, though, that with such a bold mouth, the eyes should be neutral, with little or no color.

If bright red lipstick seems too much, try it in a lip gloss.

“It’s OK to look normal and not like you’re trying too hard.”

Wells is a fan of the “gym hair that looks like you’re about to wash your face or jump on the treadmill.” It’s a fresh contrast with the “very fine clothes.” Of course, it can take a lot of effort to look casual, she says, and shiny, healthy hair is a must. — AP

he most influential runways have had their say for next spring, but there’s no need to wait for stores to stock up on cut-outs, lightweight leather, sleeveless jackets and shorts suits. There’s a way to capture “fashion next” right now: with your lipstick, hair and handbag. The themes in many of the collections were strength and toughness, and more than a hint of sexiness, which can be achieved in ways adaptable to many ages and lifestyles.

Tweaking your makeup routine is more about how you wear the products than a change in products themselves, says Linda Wells, editor in chief of Allure. This season the overall look was relatable to the everywoman - save the patent-leather eye candy at Fendi. It included red matte lips, red lacquered nails and a low ponytail. “You can adopt new trends right away, but you’re not going to look ‘out of season,’” she says. “It’s not like you’re starting to wear crisp white dresses in November or sandals in the winter.”

Transition is underrated, adds makeup artist Bobbi Brown, who has how-to tips in her new book “Pretty Powerful.” Take the time to move from one trend to another with an evolution in your look instead of a jarring change. “I’ve always held the philosophy that trends shouldn’t be stuff that you have for a few months and get rid of.”

Who can argue with flawless skin, full, red lips and slightly tousled hair? “I like that it all seems a little undone but not fussy,” says hairstylist Oscar Blandi, who saw flashes of Brigitte Bardot on the catwalk. “It’s a little raw and very beautiful.” The clothes exuded so much confidence that Blandi found balance with more natural-looking hair and makeup.

Shoes and purses also are “early adopters” of trends, largely because affordable versions of what’s on the runway are widely available. Expect extreme gladiator styles and hardware at a store near you. “All the clothes with leather harnesses are hard for real women to afford and to wear, so the bondage movement hit the feet, and the shoes were sexier than ever,” fashion commentator Mary Alice Stephenson says.

There also was a lot of brightly colored leather, which is a continuation of one of this season’s most popular looks.

Don’t bother with black or brown bags. But there was a learning curve with the clutch bag, a hot item for a while, says Dana Rotkiewicz, vice president of sales and marketing for Kooba. “We saw a lot of oversized and document clutches on

This photo shows the Donna Karan New York Spring 2013 collection.

This photo shows The BCBG MAX AZRIA Spring 2013 collection.

Thai, Lebanese films share top award at Busan fest

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2012

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This photo shows Marcia Kilpatrick Hocker on a Midtown Manhattan street in New York.

This photo shows Ellen Hart Sturm (third from right) singing at her restaurant, Ellen’s Stardust Diner, on Broadway in New York. —AP photos

This photo by shows Maureen Walsh Roaldsen at the Appellate court in Brooklyn, New York.

Decades of Miss Subways smiled on NYC straphangers t was an ad campaign conceived as eye candy to bring attention to other advertisements in New York’s transit system. But the “Meet Miss Subways” beauty contest posters of pretty young New York women and their aspirations quickly evolved into a popular and even groundbreaking fixture that ran for 35 years, from 1941 to 1976. When photographer Fiona Gardner first learned about it she “immediately wanted to know what happened to all the women.”

She set out to find out. The result is “Meet Miss Subways: New York’s Beauty Queens 1941-76,” an exhibition at the New York Transit Museum running Oct. 23-March 25, and a companion book of the same name. The contest reflected an evolving America.

When it was launched, the war already was changing the role of women.

From 1952 to 1962, the contest featured schoolteachers, stewardesses and suburban housewives; the next 10 years saw secretaries and airplane pilots.

The first African-American was crowned Miss Subways in 1948 - long before Vanessa Williams was named Miss America in 1984 - and the first Asian-American was honored in 1949.

“It was the first integrated and ethnically diverse beauty contest in America,” representing working-class women, said Gardner, who was born the year the contest ended. “I realized I had stumbled on a piece of forgotten New York history.” Her interest was piqued in 2004 after seeing some of the original posters on the walls of

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Ellen’s Stardust Diner, whose owner Ellen Hart Sturm was crowned Miss Subways in 1959. The winners’ future dreams were listed along with their headshots; many wanted to be models or singers, while others yearned to travel - “Europe four times, no less,” read the Miss Subways poster of Maureen Walsh Roaldsen in 1968. The first Miss Subways, Mona Freeman, even went on to become a movie star after being discovered by Howard Hughes.

But for most, the subway placard was their only moment in the spotlight, and finding the former winners was a challenge for Gardner. The contest archives were lost. Many of the women had married and changed their names, some had moved, still others had died. She searched the Internet, voter registration and municipal archives and even hired a private eye. With journalist Amy Zimmer, she tracked down 146 Miss Subways posters and interviewed 41 winners in person. Together they collaborated on the book, with Gardner taking the women’s portraits wearing their Miss Subways sashes at home or at work.

“Many of these women are very interesting and have accomplished many things. You realize there’s a much more complex story behind the headshots. Many of them went back and had second and third careers,” said Gardner. Marcia Kilpatrick Hocker’s dream to study with the Negro Ensemble Company repertory theater came true. She auditioned after becoming Miss Subways in 1975,

calling the contest “very confidenceboosting.”

“I’m basically very shy... I didn’t know I would be representing Miss Subways at various functions, speaking at kickoff events, addressing school groups,” the 65-year-old

be an actress,” Hocker said. She married an American diplomat in 1981 and lived for a time in Colombia and New Zealand. She put her talents to use, singing at embassy functions and coaching American children in drama.

For the past 11 years, she’s been a DJ

cratic contest, with straphangers voting via postcard for their favorite finalist. Changing times including the women’s movement, the city’s fiscal crisis and rampant graffiti in the transit system brought an end to the contest.

Only 17 when she won, Sturm’s

This photo shows Ellen Hart, who appeared on placards in the New York City subways during March and April of 1959.

Hocker said in a telephone interview from Gresham, Ore., where she now lives.

She wanted to be Miss Subways because she “wanted to be discovered. I wanted to do commercials and

This image shows Marcia Kilpatrick, who appeared on placards in the New York City subways from Nov. 1974 - April 1975.

at Jazz Radio KMHD in Portland.

For the first 22 years, winners were selected by the John Robert Powers modeling agency and the New York Subways Advertising Company.

Afterward, it became a more demo-

Star-Spangled Banner for the Knicks and Rangers games as one of Madison Square Garden’s rotating singers. She also sang at official city functions.

She married and had two sons. Her retro 1950s-themed restaurant opened in 1987, featuring singing waiters and 70 Miss Subways posters.

She also stages Miss Subways reunions at the diner. Roaldsen, 67, a 1968 winner, is coming to the next one Nov. 13 for the book’s launch party. She was 23 and working as a secretary at Downstate Medical Center when she won. On weekends, she greeted VIPs and celebrities at the Diamond Club at Shea Stadium.

As Miss Subways she represented New York. Among the perks was attending Richard Nixon’s inauguration and going to the premier of “Finian’s Rainbow” at the Ziegfeld Theatre, where she briefly met Fred Astaire. She married and continued to travel, her passion. In her 40s she launched a new career as an attorney for the New York State Appellate Court. It wasn’t a real beauty contest, said Hocker. “It was about a wellgroomed young woman who in addition to wanting to be a wife and mom, had aspirations to do something to contribute to the community at large.” —AP

poster said she wanted to pursue an acting career and devote all her spare time to acting, singing and speech lessons. “For a while I was known as the national anthem singer,” the 71-yearold said. In the 1980s Sturm sang The

This image shows Maureen Walsh, who appeared on placards in the New York City subways from FebAug 1968.